The term "illusory correlation" refers to a psychological phenomenon where people mistakenly believe there is a relationship between two events or situations, even when no connection exists. This concept is particularly relevant in hauntings and other areas of the paranormal, where people might interpret sequential but unrelated events as being linked to supernatural causes.

For example, imagine someone in a supposedly haunted house hears a creaking sound right after they ask a spirit to make a noise. They might jump to the conclusion that the spirit caused the sound as a direct response to their request. In reality, the creak could simply be due to the natural settling of the house or a change in temperature. The person has formed an illusory correlation between their request and the noise, assuming a causal relationship where none exists.

Similarly, if someone experiences a headache after visiting a location they believe to be haunted, they...