Alternative medicine: A psychological perspective

The contribution of various predictors to belief in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) was examined. Participants (N = 3261) completed a measure of CAM beliefs, the Rational-Experiential Inventory, the Magical Beliefs about Food and Health Scale, the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale, and Schwartz's Value Survey. The results promoted the view of CAM beliefs in the light of intuitive thinking, paranormal beliefs and magical food and health beliefs, while demonstrating limitations in the capacity of values, rational thinking, and gender to explain them. The findings facilitate integration of previous findings and permit more precise understanding of CAM beliefs.