Editing Paranormal (section)

===Criticism===
Some scientists have criticized the [[Mass media|media]] for promoting paranormal claims. In a report by Singer and Benassi in 1981, they wrote that the media may account for much of the near universality of paranormal belief, as the public are constantly exposed to films, newspapers, documentaries and books endorsing paranormal claims while critical coverage is largely absent.<ref>{{cite journal|first1=Barry |last1=Singer |first2=Victor A. |last2=Benassi |title=Occult Beliefs: Media distortions, social uncertainty, and deficiencies of human reasoning seem to be at the basis of occult beliefs |journal=[[American Scientist]] |volume=69 |issue=1 |date=January–February 1981 |pages=49–55}}</ref> According to [[Paul Kurtz]], "In regard to the many talk shows that constantly deal with paranormal topics, the skeptical viewpoint is rarely heard; and when it is permitted to be expressed, it is usually sandbagged by the host or other guests." Kurtz described the popularity of public belief in the paranormal as a "quasi-religious phenomenon", a manifestation of a transcendental temptation, a tendency for people to seek a [[Transcendence (religion)|transcendental]] reality that cannot be known by using the methods of science. Kurtz compared this to a primitive form of [[magical thinking]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Kurtz |first=Paul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q34zdaoq0xIC&q=%22primitive+forms+of+magical+thinking%22 |title=Skepticism and Humanism: The New Paradigm |year=2001 |publisher=Transaction Publishers |page=63 |isbn=978-0-7658-0051-0}}</ref>

[[Terence Hines]] has written that on a personal level, paranormal claims could be considered a form of consumer fraud as people are "being induced through false claims to spend their money—often large sums—on paranormal claims that do not deliver what they promise" and uncritical acceptance of paranormal belief systems can be damaging to society.<ref>Hines, Terence (2003). p. 38.</ref>