Ooh, Scary: 33% of US Believes in Ghosts

Americans spook easily, with nearly a third of people admitting to believing in ghosts and nearly a quarter claiming to have seen or felt one, an AP-Ipsos poll finds. Nearly every other person believes in ESP, and 20% believe in witchcraft and spells. Singles, Catholics, and those who never attend religious services are most likely to be visited.

Women are more superstitious than men, especially about broken mirrors, four-leaf clovers, and grooms seeing brides on their wedding day; the same for Democrats over Republicans, although right-wingers are more superstitious about opening umbrellas indoors. Roughly one in 20 people have seen a monster in the closet. "It was so terrifying I couldn't move," said one of them. (More ghosts stories.)