"That f---ing guy is everywhere all the time," Lowe said of Paxton on his podcast. Emlyn Travis is a news writer at Entertainment Weekly with over five years of experience covering the latest in entertainment. A proud Kingston University alum, Emlyn has written about music, fandom, film, television, and awards for multiple outlets including MTV News, Teen Vogue, Bustle, BuzzFeed, Paper Magazine, Dazed, and NME. Rob Lowe says his late friend and Frank and Jesse costar Bill Paxton still keeps up with him from the other side. During Thursday's episode of Lowe's Literally podcast, the Parks and Rec alum explained that Paxton — who died at 61 after suffering complications following a heart procedure in 2017 — often checks in with him whenever he goes for a psychic reading. “Do you ever have people in your life that you think would come up in readings that just don't make as much of an appearance?” Lowe asked guest Kelsey Grammer. “For example, my mother rarely shows up. And then I have the great actor Bill Paxton, who was a great friend, and that f---ing guy is everywhere all the time. Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. “He's [going], ‘Well, God, I heard you and Kelsey on that podcast. God, you guys are talking about everything! Grammer noted that he was delighted to hear that Paxton — who once made a cameo appearance on season 10 of Frasier as a celebrity caller — and his presence could still be felt after his sudden death. The Twister actor died after suffering a stroke, which occurred 11 days after he underwent surgery to repair a heart valve and aorta damage in 2017. A wrongful death lawsuit was settled by his family in 2022. “Well, you know, I've thought about him some and thought about his energy and how it was probably a real surprise to be, ‘What am I, dead? I don't know what he was in there for, but it was obviously a procedure that was not meant to end up in that way.” He also had nothing but positive things to say about Paxton's filmography. Quoting Paxton in the 1986 film, Lowe jokingly interjected, “Game over, man. And I think that, I dunno why that would disappear,” Grammer added. So, you know I get that.” Lowe previously revealed in a 2023 episode of his podcast that he was once visited by Paxton — who played his outlaw brother in the 1994 Western Frank and Jesse — after his death in a dream. “In the dream — it's super real — Bill walks into the room and I'm like, ‘Oh my god, Bill doesn't know he's dead. “He's like, ‘Hey, man, how are you? I've been coming back and forth! He then said that Paxton offered to show him the other side of the veil. Lowe noted that he was so overwhelmed by the sheer amount of love that he felt in that moment that he began to weep before eventually being roused from his slumber. He added, “I woke up going, ‘Oh, well… I have no illusions at all about what the next chapter is.'" Watch Lowe discuss reconnecting with Paxton in his psyching readings in the clip above.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel left MAGA social circles fuming on Thursday after he flatly shot down a long-held Jeffrey Epstein conspiracy theory. “Are you going to release all the information about that?” asked Kennedy. Patel responded, “Senator we are working through that right now with the Department of Justice.” As for when he would have it done, Patel added, “In the near future.” “What is going on with @FBIDirectorKash; has he been compromised by the intelligence agencies? Do you remember seen Ehud Barak entering Epstein house in NYC?” wrote one MAGA following X user. What is going on with @FBIDirectorKash ; has he been compromised by the intelligence agencies? Do you remember seen Ehud Barak entering Epstein house in NYC? “Truth seeker” Ryan Matta wrote in a tweet, “Kash Patel is cooked.” Another fellow truth seeker by the name of Adam commented on X, “Remember when Kash Patel called for a 24/7 declassification office? Now he won't even lift a finger get us the Epstein files.” Now he won't even lift a finger get us the Epstein files. He was left bumbling like a student without his homework completed as one Democratic senator took him to task for showing up for the budget meeting without an actual budget. Patel replied, “Uhh, not yet,” before blaming the budget's delay on “interagency partners.” As it turned out, Patel—whom President Donald Trump appointed to the post in February—couldn't even offer a timeline for when he could turn in his budget request. Sounding every bit like a disappointed teacher, Murray said Patel's “best” was “insufficient and deeply disturbing.” During that same meeting, Patel was also hammered over his understanding of the Fifth Amendment as Democrat Sen. Jeff Merkley demanded to know why he was not investigating immigrants who had been “swept off the streets of America and sent to El Salvador without due process.” Patel's apparent lack of preparation for the hearing is sure to hand more ammunition to critics who say the former DoJ official and staunch Trump loyalist is in over his head as FBI director.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Flying saucer enthusiasts and curious Ufologists will be craning their necks toward the heavens after checking out our exclusive clip for "Watch the Skies," a refreshing Swedish sci-fi movie being released on May 9, 2025, from XYZ Films ("Ash"). Titled "UFO Freak," the uncanny 2-minute sneak peek reveals strange phenomena erupting around a group of teens hanging out at a late-night gathering in an abandoned building, causing them to scatter. Directed by Swedish filmmaker Victor Danell, "Watch the Skies" involves a spunky teenager named Denise whose father has vanished and was possibly abducted by extraterrestrials seen in the nearby forests. "Watch the Skies" arrives in U.S. theaters on May 9 with an ensemble cast that includes Inez Dahl Torhaug (Denise), with Eva Melander, Jesper Barkselius, Sara Shirpey, Håkan Ehn, Isabelle Kyed, Niklas Kvarnbo Jönsson, and Mathias Lithner. Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. His work has appeared at SYFY Wire, Inverse, Collider, Bleeding Cool and elsewhere. Jeff lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon amid the ponderosa pines, classic muscle cars, a crypt of collector horror comics, and two loyal English Setters. 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' returns to theaters later this year for 50th anniversary of Transylvanian aliens landing on Earth A stadium-sized asteroid will fly past Earth on May 9, and you can watch it live (video) Space is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher.

Fresh off of starring in the thriller Drop, which received some good word-of-mouth and an 8/10 review from JoBlo's own Chris Bumbray but still didn't manage to make much money at the box office (hopefully it's having more success with its digital release), Meghann Fahy has signed on to star in another thriller, one called Banquet. You can read my very positive review of that film at THIS LINK, but the gist of it is that I was very impressed and was left eager to see what Gaztelu-Urrutia would make next. He was assembling a film called Rich Flu before the 2023 Hollywood strikes, but it turned out that his second movie was a sequel to his debut, The Platform 2. While Gaztelu-Urrutia wrote both of the Platform films with David Desola and Pedro Rivero, for Banquet he'll be working from a screenplay by Sam Steiner (Fingernails). Deadline lets us know that Fahy is taking on the role of Jenny Cochrane, a woman whose perfect life is shattered by the return of her estranged son, which reawakens a terrifying secret buried in her bloodline. XYZ Films is financing and will launch international sales at the Cannes market this month. Harry Potter director David Yates serves an executive producer under his banner Wychwood Media. Florian Zeller and Federica Sainte-Rose are executive producing for Blue Morning Pictures. What do you think of Meghann Fahy and Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia teaming up for the supernatural thriller Banquet? Likes: Movies, horror, '80s slashers, podcasts, animals, traveling, Brazil (the country), the read more Cinema Wasteland convention, classic rock, Led Zeppelin, Kevin Smith, George A. Romero, Quentin Tarantino, the Coen brothers, Richard Linklater, Paul Thomas Anderson, Stephen King, Elmore Leonard, James Bond, Tom Cruise, Marvel comics, the grindhouse/drive-in era © 1998 - present JoBlo Media Inc., All Rights Reserved | JoBlo® is a trademark of JoBlo Media Inc. JoBlo Media is a wholly owned subsidiary of Janvik Holdings Inc which also includes the JoBlo YouTube Network All movie titles, pictures, etc... are registered trademarks and/or copyrights of their respective holders Some images sourced from TMDB

Miriam Adelson's purchase of a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks from Mark Cuban sent shockwaves around the NBA. Many Mavs fans lamented the move, as Cuban is a legendary figure in both Mavericks and Dallas history. Mavs fans feared that the change in ownership would lead to the franchise relocating to Las Vegas. The NBA has openly discussed expansion to Las Vegas, and the success seen by Vegas franchises in the NFL, NHL, MLB, and WNBA proves that Vegas is a prime destination for a sports franchise. If expansion is impossible, fans feared that ownership's Vegas ties would make the Mavs a likely team to relocate to Vegas. The new Mavs leadership has given fans little reason to trust their decision-making, stoking the flames surrounding a possible relocation. The already infamous Luka Doncic trade was such a disaster that fans feared there was an ulterior motive for the move: to accelerate a move to Las Vegas. Yesterday, Marc Stein reported that the Mavericks will play a preseason game in Las Vegas against Doncic and the Lakers. Limiting preseason travel is considered advantageous to reduce fatigue and aid players in reaching peak condition. Mavs fans will also be excited to watch Doncic, making the decision to play the Lakers somewhat logical. The Mavericks franchise is at rock bottom. A year after making an NBA Finals appearance, the roster is unrecognizable. Fans were removed from games for "Fire Nico" signs. Dumont's promises to remain in Dallas ring particularly hollow after he broke his promise to keep Cuban in charge of basketball operations. To be clear, the Mavs will almost certainly stay put in Dallas. The conspiracy theory has been denied by all parties, including Dumont, Cuban, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Moves like scheduling this rumored preseason game only add to the fans' mistrust. As mistrust festers within the fanbase, it is increasingly clear Cuban should have remained in charge of basketball operations. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.

Referee Szymon Marciniak feels the conspiracy theories around the Champions League clash between Inter Milan and Barcelona are “ridiculous.” There have been numerous conspiracy theories that the Polish official favoured Inter. Even Barcelona midfielder Pedri argued that “UEFA must investigate” Marciniak for his refereeing of the match. Among these have been the notion that Marciniak has a bias towards Real Madrid. There were a few decisions that many Barcelona fans – as well as media outlets in Spain – have argued went Inter's way. First of all, there was a handball by Francesco Acerbi inside the Inter area. Marciniak did not give a penalty, because he did not see the contact by the defender's hand as intentional. Then, there was the penalty that Marciniak awarded to Inter after advice from VAR. Then, there is also the idea that Denzel Dumfries had fouled Gerard Martin in the buildup to Francesco Acerbi's stoppage time equalizer. “These are all ridiculous ideas,” he said. “I didn't hurt anyone,” he said of his refereeing. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Via a shared link with schizotypy, paranormal belief (PB) and conspiracy theory endorsement (CT) influence meaning in life (presence and search). This association is important because meaning in life (particularly presence) is a significant prognosticator of positive wellbeing. Major restrictions being the assumption that belief is homogeneous and the failure to consider how factors related to positive wellbeing (i.e., creativity and self-esteem) explain links between belief, schizotypy and psychological health. Accordingly, based on PB, CT, and schizotypy, this study used latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify belief subgroups. Analysis then employed sequential mediation to assess whether creativity and self-esteem mediated the relationship between belief and meaning in life. A sample of 647 completed measures at four time points 2 months apart. Path analysis revealed that Profile 2 (vs. Profile 1) predicted greater search over time. Moreover, Profile 2 predicted creativity (self-efficacy and personal identity), which in combination with self-esteem, sequentially mediated the belief-meaning in life relationship. Explicitly, creative self-efficacy prognosticated greater self-esteem, which aligned with greater presence and lower search. Creative personal identity demonstrated a negative link with self-esteem but predicted presence and search. Overall, higher scorers in PB, CT, and schizotypy were less driven to search and more likely to possess presence as a function of possessing confidence in their ability to find solutions to problems and self-esteem. This paper examined the degree to which validation of empirically flawed notions (i.e., scientifically unfounded assertions, SUAs) influenced meaning in life. To establish this, the authors first considered how paranormal belief (PB) and conspiracy theory endorsement (CT) interrelated within participants. The researchers focused on PB and CT because the constructs feature prominently in SUA literature and affiliate differently to meaning in life balance, which is a prognosticator of positive wellbeing (Dagnall et al., 2024). This was an important conceptual advance, since theorists typically study PB and CT in isolation (construct-focused) or assume, based on moderate to strong associations, that belief in one construct predicts endorsement of the other (generic) (Bensley et al., 2022). Examples of generic classifications are scientifically unsubstantiated beliefs (i.e., the tendency to endorse unverifiable world statements, Mill et al., 1994) and epistemically unwarranted beliefs (i.e., acceptance of viewpoints not supported by credible data and logical reasoning, Lobato et al., 2014). Collectively, such groupings recognize the high-order characteristics of SUAs. Particularly, that high (vs. lower) advocacy is affiliated with reduced critical thinking and increased scientific skepticism. Though both construct-focused and generic approaches have afforded insights into SUAs they possess limitations. Construct-focused studies fail to consider whether outcomes generalize across belief types, whereas the generic approach emphasizes commonality to the exclusion of difference. Despite generating a robust body of work, these approaches fail to consider how PB and CT interact within individuals. This is important because though correlated, PB and CT differ conceptually and vary in the ways they interact with wellbeing related outcomes. This divergence is commensurate with the constructs distinct features. PB describes authentication of supernatural propositions (e.g., powers, forces, and entities) by individuals who typically engage in rational thinking and reality testing (Irwin, 2009). Conceptually, delimiting CT is difficult since there exists no agreed definition. Prevailing themes include the ill-intentioned motivations of powerful individuals/groups (e.g., planning, duplicity, intention, and manipulation) (Drinkwater et al., 2023). Validation of both PB and CT is flawed because they derive from a non-scientific and unverified, evidential basis. The assumption that PB and CT are adaptively similar (i.e., affiliated with wellbeing outcomes) derives from the observation that they relate similarly to cognitive-perceptual factors such as schizotypy and proneness to reality testing errors. The link with schizotypy is especially important since the construct affiliates with a range of psychological health outcomes (Mohr and Claridge, 2015). Noting this, and the fact that schizotypy adds variability to SUAs, recent scholarly work has investigated interactions between, PB, CT, and schizotypy (Denovan et al., 2018; Dagnall et al., 2022b). Schizotypy is a multidimensional psychopathological construct (Lenzenweger, 2015), which within non-clinical populations theorists regard as a personality dimension ranging from psychological health to schizophrenia (Barrantes-Vidal et al., 2015). In this context, schizotypy designates the extent to which attenuated features of psychotic states occur within healthy individuals (Claridge, 1997). The advantage of this operationalization is that it recognizes that elevated levels of schizotypy exist within general samples without progressing to full spectrum symptoms (Dembinska-Krajewska and Rybakowski, 2014). Schizotypy comprises positive, negative, and disorganized feature clusters, which map on to factorial models of schizophrenia (Cicero and Kerns, 2010). Positive (productive psychotic-like) symptoms include bizarre perceptions (i.e., hallucinations proneness), thought content disruption (i.e., odd beliefs, magical ideation, and delusion propensity), and suspiciousness/paranoia. Negative (i.e., deficit/restriction) symptoms comprise reduced emotional affect (e.g., flattening, disinterest in external world, and anhedonia). Disorganization symptoms encompass disrupted cognitions and actions. These characteristics collectively and at the dimensional level are important because they interact with SUAs. For example, are associated with variations in cognitive performance (Denovan et al., 2018). Noting that schizotypy can qualify the effects of PB, investigators have combined PB and schizotypy using latent profile analysis (LPA). LPA is a form of mixture modeling that assumes the presence of unobserved (latent) subgroups and probabilistically specifies profiles/class membership using participant responses (i.e., distinct patterns across indicators). The advantage of LPA is that the technique identifies believer subgroups based on multiple variables. This approach has advanced understanding of SUAs by demonstrating that believers are not homogeneous. Instead, belief is heterogeneous, and conviction varies as a function of level of other cognitive-perceptual such as concurrent level of psychopathology (e.g., schizoptypy, Dagnall et al., 2024; manic-depressive experience, Dagnall et al., 2022a) qualify beliefs (Drinkwater et al., 2024). In terms of wellbeing, this paper focused on meaning in life because the construct is strongly related to psychological and physical health (Czekierda et al., 2017). Specifically, meaning in life is robustly associated with reduced suffering, and better relationships (Steger, 2017). Meaning in life is “the extent to which people comprehend, make sense of, or see significance in their lives, accompanied by the degree to which they perceive themselves to have a purpose, mission, or overarching aim” (Steger, 2009, p. 682). This includes feeling that existence matters and is significant (i.e., has value) (Steger, 2012). Correspondingly, positive psychological theories regard meaning in life as integral to flourishing (i.e., happiness, growth, and optimizing potential) (Diener and Seligman, 2004; Ryff and Singer, 1998) and life satisfaction (Steger, 2017). Concomitantly, individuals with greater meaning in life express greater positivity about themselves and report higher self-esteem, self-acceptance, and positive self-image (Steger et al., 2008). Researchers regularly assess the construct using the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (Steger et al., 2006), which comprises presence (sense of life as meaningful) and search (drive toward finding meaning). Studies report that these dimensions link divergently with health outcomes. Presence affiliates with positive factors (e.g., life satisfaction), and is inversely related to negative features (e.g., depression) (Steger et al., 2006). Search is associated with reduced wellbeing and negative affect (e.g., sadness and rumination) (Dakin et al., 2021). Though search and presence are independent orthogonal factors, fulfilled search can positively reinforce presence offsetting negative outcomes linked to Search (Newman et al., 2018), whereas unresolved search relates negatively to presence (Russo-Netzer and Icekson, 2023). Moreover, Barnett et al. (2019) found that presence buffered against negative outcomes (psychologist distress, burnout and negative affect) through higher self-esteem. This indicated the vital role that positive affect plays in meaning in life. Additionally, studies report that creativity enhances meaning in life. Creativity refers to the generation of something novel and useful (Plucker et al., 2004). The positive relationship between the constructs stems from the fact that creativity enables individuals to attain core attributes of meaning of life (i.e., purpose, significance, and coherence) (Kaufman, 2018). Drawing on this interaction, Kaufman (2018) proposed a temporal model where past, present, and future pathways to creativity foster meaning of life. This contends that the past promotes deeper life understanding; the present engages individuals with life and reminds them of enjoyment and connections, and the future provides a sense of legacy and lasting contribution. Regarding self-esteem, González Moreno and Molero Jurado (2023) found that higher levels of creativity were associated with increased self-esteem, suggesting that nurturing creativity increases emotional wellbeing. Additionally, Nemeržitski and Heinla (2020) reported that teachers with higher creative self-efficacy possessed greater self-esteem, which reinforced their creative teaching practices. Added to this, creativity demonstrates a complex relationship with schizotypy. Jacquet et al. (2020) established that positive schizotypy features (e.g., cognitive-perceptual aberrations) aligned with greater creativity than negative and disorganized schizotypy characteristics (e.g., anhedonia, disorganization of thought). This relationship between cognitive-perceptual features and creativity may explain how schizotypy can link with positive wellbeing, such as life meaning. The present paper used LPA to identify belief subgroups based on PB, CT, and schizotypy scores (baseline). Then employed sequential mediation to assess whether conceptually related wellbeing factors (creativity and self-esteem) mediated the relationship between belief and meaning in life. The researchers selected these factors because they were positively associated and related to meaning in life. The advantage of sequential mediation was that it allowed the authors to examine temporal and causal relationships and capture the directionality of effects over time. This was not possible using a traditional cross-sectional design, which only assesses variables at a single point. Since this study was exploratory, the authors did not state precise hypotheses. Nevertheless, they anticipated that meaning in life scores would vary as a function of subgroup membership and that creativity and self-esteem would mediate the belief subgroup-meaning in life relationship. The researchers recruited participants through Bilendi, an acknowledged supplier of quality data (Kees et al., 2017; Fladerer and Braun, 2020). The researchers asked Bilendi to recruit a representative, gender balanced, UK-based sample (minimum age 18 years). The survey employed psychometrically attested self-report measures. The RPBS (Tobacyk, 2004) assessed endorsement of supernatural phenomena (i.e., precognition, psi belief, superstition, traditional religious belief, spiritualism, witchcraft, and extraordinary life forms; see Dagnall et al., 2010). The RBPS contains 26 items presented as statements (e.g., “Black cats can bring bad luck”). Participants record their responses on a 7-point Likert-type scale (1= strongly disagree and 7 = strongly agree). Consistent with Irwin (2009), the researchers recoded responses (0–6). Hence, total scores ranged from 0 to 156, with higher scores indicating greater paranormal belief. The GCB-5 (Kay and Slovic, 2023) is a short, unidimensional form of the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS, Brotherton et al., 2013). Both measures assess the tendency to endorse generic conspiracist ideation. The GCB-5 comprises the highest loading items from each of GCBS factors: government malfeasance, extraterrestrial cover-up, malevolent global conspiracies, personal wellbeing, and control of information. Researchers developed the GCB-5 for use in lengthy test batteries to facilitate participant engagement and completion. Within the GCB measures items appear as statements and participants respond via 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = definitely not true to 5 = definitely true). Total GCB-5 scores range from 5 to 25. Higher totals reflect greater endorsement of general conspiracist notions. The SPQ-B (Raine and Benishay, 1995) assesses incidence of normal variability and abnormal degrees of schizotypy using 22 items (e.g., “People sometimes find me aloof and distant”). Participants answer using a dichotomous scale (0 = No and 1 = Yes). These correspond with the major symptoms of schizophrenia. CP assesses positive aspects (i.e., odd beliefs and magical thinking, unusual perceptual experiences, paranoid ideation). Interpersonal appraises negative features (i.e., social anxiety, constricted affect, and paranoia). Disorganized evaluates presence of thought disorder and bizarre behavior. In addition to subscale totals, the SPQ-B produces a summative score (0–22). Higher scores signify greater schizotypy. Creative self-efficacy refers to an individual's confidence in their ability to produce creative outcomes (e.g., “I know I can efficiently solve even complicated problems?”). Creative personal identity is the perception that creativity is a central part of an individual's self (e.g., “Being a creative person is important to me”). The SSCS presents items as statements and participants record their responses on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = definitely not, 7 = definitely yes). Higher totals specify greater levels of creative self-efficacy and personal identity. The RES (Rosenberg, 1965) evaluates global self-esteem (i.e., perceptions of self-worth and acceptance) using 10 statements (e.g., “I take a positive attitude toward myself”). The MLQ (Steger et al., 2006) assessed presence of (5 items, “I understand my life's meaning”) and search (5 items, “I am seeking a purpose or mission for my life”) for purpose in life. Presence is the extent to which individuals believe their being has purpose. Search denotes the degree individuals strive to find or deepen life purpose. Participants indicated endorsement with a 7-point Likert type scale (1 = absolutely untrue to 7 = absolutely true). Subscales range from 5 to 35 and higher scores denote greater presence and search for meaning in life. Instruments employed within this study have demonstrated robust psychometric integrity (i.e., reliability and validity): RPBS (Drinkwater et al., 2017), GCB-5 (Dagnall et al., 2023; Kay and Slovic, 2023); SPQ-B (Raine and Benishay, 1995); SCCS (Karwowski, 2012, 2014); RES (Rosenberg, 1965); and MLQ (Steger et al., 2006). Participants accessed the site by clicking on the weblink circulated by Bilendi. Only participants who provided consent by ticking on the option progressed. The opening survey section consisted of a short demographic section requiring age, preferred gender, and occupation. Participants then progressed to the study scales. To lessen carry-over and order effects the presentation of measures varied across participants. The Qualtrics randomizer controlled this process. Survey instructions directed participants to advance at their own pace and consider items carefully. To counteract social desirability and evaluation apprehension, instructions also informed participants that there were no correct answers and answers should reflect individual inclinations (Krishnaveni and Deepa, 2013). To counter potential common method variance, individual scale instructions emphasized the separateness of sections and construct uniqueness (Spector, 2019). This procedure produces psychological distance between scales and encourages participants to focus on item content. The Health and Education Research Ethics Committee at Manchester Metropolitan University provided ethical approval (Project ID, 47784). Data screening and assessment of correlations occurred prior to latent profile analysis (LPA). LPA identified believer subgroups based on Paranormal Belief (PB), Conspiracist Belief (CT), and schizotypy scores. To determine optimal subgroup number the investigators used a likelihood-based significance test. Specifically, the Lo-Mendel-Rubin Adjusted Likelihood Ratio test (LMR-A-LRT; Lo et al., 2001), which compares a k profile with a k-1 profile model. Information criteria were Akaike Information Criterion (AIC; Akaike, 1974), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC; Schwarz, 1978), and Sample-Size Adjusted BIC (ssaBIC; Sclove, 1987). Lower scores on these indicate superior fit. Next, a path model employed profiles as predictors. This assessed relationships between belief and Meaning in Life (Presence and Search) over time. Within this model, Creativity and Self-Esteem acted as mediators with regards to the belief-Meaning in Life relationship. Analyses assessed model fit using standard fit indices: Confirmatory Fit Index (CFI), Standardized Root-Mean-Square Residual (SRMR), and Root-Mean-Squared Error of Approximation (RMSEA). To assess mediation, analyses applied bootstrapping (1000 resamples) to compute 95% bias-corrected confidence intervals (Preacher and Hayes, 2008). Associations between belief variables (used for LPA) were typical to large (except for Interpersonal with PB, r = 0.14) and below 0.8. The latter finding designated absence of multicollinearity (Tabachnick et al., 2013) (Table 1). Consistent with previous literature (e.g., Dagnall et al., 2022b; Denovan et al., 2020), the Cognitive-Perceptual schizotypy factor (vs. Interpersonal and Disorganized) was most strongly associated with PB and CT. LPA identified two belief subgroups using a hierarchical approach. This started with one group and then assessed additional groups until a non-significant LMR-A-LRT occurred alongside minimal divergence in AIC, BIC and ssaBIC. The two-profile (vs. one-profile model solution) significantly improved fit (see Supplementary material). A three-profile solution produced a non-significant LMR-A-LRT concomitant with small decreases in AIC, BIC, and ssaBIC. Thus, further analyses adopted the two-profile model (Figure 1). Profile 1, “Lower Belief Ideation” (65.1% of the sample), displayed lower scores across variables and vs. scale norms, whereas Profile 2, “Higher Belief Ideation” (34.9% of the sample) displayed higher scores across variables and vs. scale norms. Since only one high belief profile emerged, path analysis evaluated predictive relationships between Profile 2 (Higher Belief Ideation) and Meaning in Life (Presence, MLPresence; and Search, MLSearch). The initial model was saturated and reported perfect fit. Accordingly, analysis specified a model constraining non-significant predictive paths to zero (i.e., CRSE with both MLPres and MLSearch). This produced a model with good fit, χ2 (2, N = 647) = 3.94, p = 0.139, CFI = 0.99, SRMR = 0.01, RMSEA = 0.03 (95% CI of 0.01–0.09). Path assessment revealed CRPI and Self-Esteem were positive predictors of MLPres (Figure 2). In addition, CRPI was a positive predictor of MLSearch, whereas Self-Esteem was a negative prognosticator. Profile 1, Profile 2 exerted a significant indirect effect on MLPresence via CRPI and Self-esteem (Table 2). Profile 2 exerted a significant direct and indirect effect on MLSearch via CRPI and Self-esteem. CRPI positively predicted MLSearch, Self-esteem was a negative predictor. Sequentially, CRPI negatively predicted Self-esteem, and CRSE was a positive predictor, prior to Self-esteem predicting MLPresence (positively) and MLSearch (negatively). Multiple time point path model portraying relationships between latent profile (reference category = Profile 2), Creativity, Self-esteem, and Meaning in Life outcomes. CRSE, Creativity Self-efficacy; CRPI, Creativity Personal Identity; S-E, Self-esteem; MLPres, Meaning in Life Presence; MLSearch, Meaning in Life Search. Standardized regression weights between variables shown. Error not indicated but specified for all variables. All relationships aside from Profile 2 and MLPres were p < 0.05 (using Bootstrapping significance estimates, 1,000 resamples). Specific direct and indirect effects of latent profile on meaning in life outcomes through creativity and self-esteem. Selection of these labels reflected the tendencies of profile members to hold PBs, endorse CTs, and report higher levels of schizotypy, particularly Cognitive-Perceptual deficits. This outcome aligned with the delineation of CP in normal populations as thoughts and behavior that correspond, in an attenuated form, to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia (i.e., odd beliefs and magical thinking, unusual perceptual experiences, paranoid ideation, and ideas of reference). This interpretation was consistent with previous research that reports the presence of these features in endorsers of scientifically unfounded assertions (SUA). That stated, it is important to acknowledge that feature strength and constituency vary as a function of belief type. Illustratively, CT (vs. PB) is more strongly associated with paranoid ideation (Darwin et al., 2011; Greenburgh and Raihani, 2022) and PB is positively associated with presence of meaning in life, whereas CT is not related (Dagnall et al., 2024). Such differences explain why, although positively correlated, PB and CT shared only approximately 40% variance. In this context, focusing on subgroup commonality, Profile 2 reflected the generalized tendency to validate SUAs. This paper employed LPA because the method is superior to traditional clustering techniques, which are deterministic (i.e., assign participants to groups without certainty of membership), inflexible (i.e., regard groups as discrete), and perform poorly when data fails to display a spherical or equally sized distribution of clusters. Furthermore, LPA uses indices that specify data fit and prescribe subgroup numbers. For these reasons, the subgroups identified in this study were statistically robust. Path analysis revealed that Profile 2 (vs. Profile 1) were more likely to possess higher Creativity, lower Self-Esteem and higher Search for Meaning in Life (MLSearch) (i.e., strive to find/deepen life purpose). Moreover, Profile 2 were more likely to possess Presence of Life Meaning (MLPresence) (i.e., think their existence has purpose) due to Creative Personal Identity (CRPI) (i.e., regard creativity as a part of self) and Self-Esteem. These findings concur with previous investigations. Specifically, Bajaj and Lall (2018) who found sense of identity and higher self-esteem contributed to a greater life meaning. Explicitly, the notion that identity and self-esteem interconnect (Stets and Burke, 2014) and contribute to a greater meaning in life (Du et al., 2017). In addition, Profile 2 were more likely to MLSearch (as a function of CRPI) and less likely if they possessed higher Self-Esteem. A caveat is that Profile 2 (vs. Profile 1) were less likely to possess Self-Esteem, but more likely to index CRPI alongside greater belief in the ability to produce creative solutions (CRSE). Profile 2 possession of higher CRSE was concomitant with higher MLPresence and less inclination to MLSearch due to the positive effect of Self-Esteem. However, CRPI conversely influenced Self-Esteem. These findings demonstrated that Profile 2 (vs. Profile 1) were more creative, but less likely to regard themselves positively. Higher CRPI associated with greater MLPresence and MLSearch. Contrarywise, Profile 2′s affiliation with greater CRSE associated with higher Self-Esteem, which predicted greater MLPresence and lower MLSearch. In terms of previous research, there is limited evidence collectively linking paranormal belief, conspiracy endorsement, and schizotypy to creativity and self-esteem. However, it is possible that shared cognitive-perceptual features (e.g., magical thinking) between PB, CT, and schizotypy explain associations with higher creativity, which links positively with life meaning via self-esteem. Indeed, research demonstrates that magical thinking is associated with divergent thinking and creativity (Fisher et al., 2004). Investigators need to undertake additional research to establish the generality of findings and to further explore the complex relationships outlined. The broad belief classifications identified in the current article (Low 65% vs. High 35%) were consistent with the notion that verification of SUAs occurs frequently within general, non-clinical samples (PB, Dagnall et al., 2016 and CT, Pilch et al., 2023). This coheres with the notion that verification is a typical manifestation of flawed human cognition. Explicitly, the tendency to assume and ratify worldviews based on subjective (internally generated) data (Dagnall et al., 2015; Irwin et al., 2012a,b). In this context, the study of belief is important because beliefs potentially undermine real-world decision making (Bensley, 2023). For example, negatively influence health attitudes/choices and adaptive coping functioning (Denovan et al., 2024a,b). Acknowledging these concerns, ensuing academic work should design interventions that view SUAs holistically, rather than as distinct belief types. The present paper has limitations that merit consideration. Explicitly, while LPA produced statistically appropriate profiles, the identified subgroups lacked a theoretical foundation. Also, though profiles were descriptive to the extent that they grouped individuals on the basis of high (vs. low) SUAs and schizotypy, this outcome provides evidence to support the notion that theorists should consider beliefs and allied factors in tandem rather than as isolated constructs (Mill et al., 1994; Lobato et al., 2014). Additionally, because subgroups identified by LPA arise from cross-variable heterogeneity within particular samples, subsequent studies need to determine whether similar profiles reproduce in independent samples. Establishing subgroup robustness is methodologically and conceptually important. Specifically, it enables theoretical comparison across disparate participant groupings. This is necessary since the investigators drew the present sample from the general population where SUAs and schizotypy scores are typically low and lack variability. Accordingly, subsequent academic work needs to consider a broader range of SUAs and include greater participant diversity (i.e., recruit and compare respondents from general and clinical populations). To establish equivalence follow-up studies could use crossvalidation methods (Donovan and Chung, 2015). These are statistical techniques such as progressive elaboration that evaluate stability and generalizability by repeating the analysis across different samples and/or data subsets. This iterative process ensures profile robustness across varied conditions and refines profiles by progressively adding detail. Crossvalidation via assessment of profile stability and fit avoids misspecification (Collins et al., 1994). Despite these limitations, the broad subgroupings identified within the current paper provide a sound basis for examining relationships between SUAs and subjective wellbeing. A further potential limitation in this study arose from the use of self-report measures. Due to deficits in metacognitive awareness, self-report measures are susceptible to cognitive biases. Particularly the Dunning-Kruger effect (Kruger and Dunning, 1999), which occurs when individuals misjudge their competence. This manifests as a mismatch between actual and perceived ability, whereby less proficient individuals overestimate this capacities and more able respondents underestimate their capabilities. In the context of this report, this was problematic with regards to self-efficacy, which Bandura (1997) defined as belief in one's ability to influence personal outcomes, because scores may have reflected perceived (rather than actual) competence. Hence, the illusion of self-efficacy could reinforce presence pf meaning in life in the absence of empirical support. Self-esteem also influences this process. When based on an inaccurate perceived self-efficacy, strong self-esteem can create a false sense of existential significance. Conversely, low self-esteem may weaken perception of purpose, particularly when personal failures contradict expectations. Additionally, the Dunning-Kruger effect may influence creativity scores. This raises concerns about the accuracy of self-reported creative efficacy and its alignment with objective measures of creative performance. Future research should explore how metacognitive insight influences responses on the Short Scale of Creative Self and whether external, objective validation aligns with self-reported creative efficacy/confidence. The studies involving humans were approved by the studies involving humans were approved by the Health and Education Research Ethics and Governance Committee at Manchester Metropolitan University granted ethical approval (Project ID, 47784). The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study. ND: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Supervision, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. AD: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. KD: Data curation, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Project administration, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. We would like to thank the BIAL Foundation for their support (grant no. The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision. The author(s) declare that no Gen AI was used in the creation of this manuscript. All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher. The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1567920/full#supplementary-material A new look at the statistical model identification. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar The relationship between identity, self-esteem and meaning in life among late adolescent women. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. New York City: W H Freeman/Times Books/Henry Holt and Co. Barnett, M. D., Moore, J. M., and Garza, C. J. Meaning in life and self-esteem help hospice nurses withstand prolonged exposure to death. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Critical thinking, intelligence, and unsubstantiated beliefs: an integrative review. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Bensley, D. A., Watkins, C., Lilienfeld, S. O., Masciocchi, C., Murtagh, M. P., Rowan, K., et al. (2022). Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Measuring belief in conspiracy theories: the generic conspiracist beliefs scale. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Confirmatory Factor Analysis for Applied Research. New York City: Guilford Publications. Multidimensional factor structure of positive schizotypy. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Implications for Illness and Health. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Collins, L. M., Graham, J. W., Long, J. D., and Hansen, W. B. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Czekierda, K., Banik, A., Park, C. L., and Luszczynska, A. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Variations in wellbeing as a function of paranormal belief and psychopathological symptoms: a latent profile analysis. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Paranormal belief, cognitive-perceptual factors, and wellbeing: a network analysis. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Dagnall, N., Denovan, A., Drinkwater, K. G., and Escolà-Gascón, A. The generic conspiracist beliefs scale-5: further psychometric evaluation using a United Kingdom-based sample. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Dagnall, N., Drinkwater, K., Parker, A., and Clough, P. J. Dagnall, N., Drinkwater, K., Parker, A., Denovan, A., and Parton, M. (2015). Conspiracy theory and cognitive style: a worldview. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Dagnall, N., Drinkwater, K. G., Denovan, A., and Gascón, A. E. (2024). Variations in positive wellbeing as a function of the interaction between paranormal belief and schizotypy. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Dagnall, N., Parker, A., Munley, G., and Drinkwater, K. (2010). Dakin, B. C., Laham, S. M., Tan, N. P. J., and Bastian, B. Searching for meaning is associated with costly prosociality. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Darwin, H., Neave, N., and Holmes, J. The role of paranormal belief, paranoid ideation and schizotypy. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar The Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE) schizotypy scale in psychiatry. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Denovan, A., Dagnall, N., Drinkwater, K., and Parker, A. Latent profile analysis of schizotypy and paranormal belief: associations with probabilistic reasoning performance. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Denovan, A., Dagnall, N., Drinkwater, K., Parker, A., and Neave, N. (2020). Conspiracist beliefs, intuitive thinking, and schizotypal facets: a further evaluation. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar The paranormal health beliefs scale: an evaluation using cognitive interviewing. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Denovan, A., Dagnall, N., Drinkwater, K. G., and Escolà-Gascón, Á. The illusory health beliefs scale: preliminary validation using exploratory factor and Rasch analysis. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Beyond money: toward an economy of wellbeing. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Progressive elaboration and cross-validation of a latent class typology of adolescent alcohol involvement in a national sample. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Drinkwater, K., Dagnall, N., and Denovan, A. Conspiracy theory advocacy and endorsement of inaccurate material: a review of the psychological research 2010-2022. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Drinkwater, K., Denovan, A., Dagnall, N., and Parker, A. An assessment of the dimensionality and factorial structure of the revised paranormal belief scale. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Paranormal belief, psychopathological symptoms, and wellbeing: latent profile analysis and longitudinal assessment of relationships. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Self-esteem and subjective wellbeing revisited: the roles of personal, relational, and collective self-esteem. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Fisher, J. E., Mohanty, A., Herrington, J. D., Koven, N. S., Miller, G. A., Heller, W., et al. (2004). Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Managers' resources for authentic leadership–a multi-study exploration of positive psychological capacities and ethical organizational climates. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar González Moreno, A., and Molero Jurado, M. D. M. (2023). Creativity as a positive factor in the adolescence stage: relations with academic performance, stress and self-esteem. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., and Anderson, R. E. (2010). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: conventional criteria vs. new alternatives. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar The Psychology of Paranormal Belief: A Researcher's Handbook. Hatfield: University of Hertfordshire Press. Paranormal belief and biases in reasoning underlying the formation of delusions. Paranormal beliefs and cognitive processes underlying the formation of delusions. Jacquet, J., Delpech, L., Bronchain, J., and Raynal, P. (2020). Creative competencies and cognitive processes associated with creativity are linked with positive schizotypy. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Did curiosity kill the cat? Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Creative mindsets: Measurement, correlates, consequences. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Finding meaning with creativity in the past, present, and future. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Kees, J., Berry, C., Burton, S., and Sheehan, K. (2017). An analysis of data quality: professional panels, student subject pools, and Amazon's mechanical Turk. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Controlling common method variance while measuring the impact of emotional intelligence on wellbeing. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Unskilled and unaware of it: how difficulties in recognizing one's own incompetence lead to inflated self-assessments. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Thinking clearly about schizotypy: hewing to the schizophrenia liability core, considering interesting tangents, and avoiding conceptual quicksand. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Lo, Y., Mendell, N. R., and Rubin, D. B. Testing the number of components in a normal mixture. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Lobato, E., Mendoza, J., Sims, V., and Chin, M. (2014). Examining the relationship between conspiracy theories, paranormal beliefs, and pseudoscience acceptance among a university population. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Influence of research methods and statistics courses on everyday reasoning, critical abilities, and belief in unsubstantiated phenomena. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Teachers' creative self-efficacy, self-esteem, and creative teaching in Estonia: A framework for understanding teachers' creativity-supportive behaviour. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar The dynamics of searching for meaning and presence of meaning in daily life. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Pilch, I., Turska-Kawa, A., Wardawy, P., Olszanecka-Marmola, A., and Smołkowska-Jedo, W. (2023). Contemporary trends in psychological research on conspiracy beliefs. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Why isn't creativity more important to educational psychologists? Potentials, pitfalls, and future directions in creativity research. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar The SPQ-B: A brief screening instrument for schizotypal personality disorder. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Society and the Adolescent Self-Image. An underexplored pathway to life satisfaction: the development and validation of the synchronicity awareness and meaning-detecting scale. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar The contours of positive human health. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Estimating the dimension of a model. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Application of model-selection criteria to some problems in multivariate analysis. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Do not cross me: optimizing the use of cross-sectional designs. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar “Meaning in life and wellbeing,” in Wellbeing, Recovery and Mental Health, ed. “Experiencing meaning in life: optimal functioning at the nexus of spirituality, psychopathology, and wellbeing,” in The Human Quest for Meaning (2nd Edn. Wong, P. T. P. (New York, NY: Routledge), 165–184. Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., and Kaler, M. (2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Understanding the search for meaning in life: personality, cognitive style, and the dynamic between seeking and experiencing meaning. PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Tabachnick, B. G., Fidell, L. S., and Ullman, J. A revised paranormal belief scale. Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Citation: Dagnall N, Denovan A and Drinkwater KG (2025) Examining the degree to which paranormal belief and conspiracy endorsement influence meaning in life: sequential mediating effects of creativity and self-esteem. Received: 28 January 2025; Accepted: 16 April 2025; Published: 08 May 2025. Copyright © 2025 Dagnall, Denovan and Drinkwater. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher. Learn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish.