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Children who speak of past-life experiences: is there a psychological explanation?
Abstract
Children who claim to remember fragments of a past life are found in some countries. Various explanations have been put forward as to why the alleged memories develop, ranging from reincarnation to 'therapeutic resource'. This study puts to the test the role of some psychological characteristics and the circumstances in which the children live, such as fantasy, suggestibility, social isolation, dissociation, and attention-seeking. Thirty children in Lebanon who had persistently spoken of past-life memories, and 30 comparison children, were administered relevant tests and questionnaires. The target group obtained higher scores for daydreaming, attention-seeking, and dissociation, but not for social isolation and suggestibility. The level of dissociation was much lower than in cases of multiple personality and not clinically relevant. There was some evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder-like symptoms. Eighty per cent of the children spoke of past-life memories of circumstances leading to a violent death (mostly accidents, also war-related deaths and murder). It is discussed if this imagery-when experienced repeatedly-may serve as a stressor.
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“Haraldsson also reported slightly elevated levels of fantasy proneness among Lebanese children when investigating this phenomenon (Haraldsson, 2003).”
From Impact of children’s purported past-life memories: a follow-up investigation of American cases (2024) · cites this paper as Haraldsson, 2003
In the citing paper
“However, studies with Sri Lankan (Haraldsson et al., 2000) and Lebanese (Haraldsson, 2003) children have similarly found elevated, but non-pathological, dissociation scores among children with purported PLMs compared to children with no memories.”
From Impact of children’s purported past-life memories: a follow-up investigation of American cases (2024) · cites this paper as Haraldsson, 2003
In the citing paper
“Research with adults shows how some features of their childhood past life memories persist into adult. 54”
From New methodological directions for involving children in past life memories research (2026) · cites this paper as [54]
Citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
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Dalenberg, C. J., Brand, B. L., Gleaves, D. H., Dorahy, M. J., Loewenstein, R. J., Cardeña, E., Frewen, P. A., Carlson, E. B., & Spiegel, D. (2012) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0027447 · Cited by 667
(2005) · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154054.001.0001 · Cited by 586
Haraldsson, E. (2006) · Nordic Psychology · doi:10.1027/1901-2276.58.2.171 · Cited by 54
“Some of them resemble rare cases of children who claim to remember a former life (Stevenson, 2003; Haraldsson, 2001, 2003).”
BackgroundSelf-citationChildren´s reports of past-life memories: a review
Tucker, J. B. (2008) · EXPLORE · doi:10.1016/j.explore.2008.04.001 · Cited by 34
French, C. C. (2017) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315247366-3 · Cited by 27
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“Approximately 80% of children's ostensible past-life memories are of violent deaths (Haraldsson, 2003).”
BackgroundInfluentialThe false fame illusion in people with memories about a previous life
Peters, M. J. V., Horselenberg, R., Jelícic, M., & Merckelbach, H. L. G. J. (2006) · Consciousness and Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.concog.2006.02.002 · Cited by 24
“Although spontaneous previous-life memories are in some countries part of a broad culture (e.g., Sri Lanka; Haraldsson, 2003), in modern Western societies such memories are often elicited under hypnosis (e.g., Spanos, Menary, Gabora, DuBreuil, & Dewhirst, 1991).”
BackgroundMental Health and the Paranormal
Dein, S. L. (2012) · International Journal of Transpersonal Studies · doi:10.24972/ijts.2012.31.1.61 · Cited by 20
“Children reporting past-life memories have been shown to have higher levels of dissociative tendencies in both Sri Lanka (Haraldsson, Fowler, & Periyannanpillai, 2000) and Lebanon (Haraldsson, 2002).”
BackgroundExperimental Production of Past-Life Memories in Hypnosis
Pyun, Y. D., & Kim, Y. J. (2009) · International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis · doi:10.1080/00207140902881031 · Cited by 14
Reduced death distress and greater meaning in life among individuals reporting past life memory
Meyersburg, C. A., & McNally, R. J. (2011) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2011.02.012 · Cited by 11
Rare Medical Conditions and Suggestive Past-Life Memories: A Case Report and Literature Review
Lucchetti, G., Camargo, L. D. S., Lucchetti, A. L. G., SCHWARTZ, G. E. R., & Nasri, F. (2013) · EXPLORE · doi:10.1016/j.explore.2013.08.003 · Cited by 9
Cases of the Reincarnation Type and the Mind–Brain Relationship
Haraldsson, E. (2011) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-0647-1_11 · Cited by 7
Self-citationChildhood gender nonconformity and children's past-life memories
Pehlivanova, M., Janke, M. J., Lee, J., & Tucker, J. B. (2018) · International Journal of Sexual Health · doi:10.1080/19317611.2018.1523266 · Cited by 6
“The aggregate database has previously been used to explore salient characteristics across multiple cases in an effort to elucidate processes underlying this phenomenon (Sharma & Tucker, 2004; Stevenson & Haraldsson, 2003; Tucker, 2000).”
BackgroundMethodHaraldsson, E., & Abu-Izzedin, M. (2012) · Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/nmd.0b013e3182718c51 · Cited by 5
“However, this finding was not confirmed in a study in Lebanon (Haraldsson, 2003).”
BackgroundResultSelf-citationTheoretical Explanations of False Memory
(2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154054.003.0003 · Cited by 5
Natoor, M., & Shoshana, A. (2020) · Ethos · doi:10.1111/etho.12273 · Cited by 5
The differentiation of psychosis and spiritual emergency.
Goretzki, M. (2008) · Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) · Cited by 5
Reincarnation Type Presentations of Children with High-Functioning Autism in Sri Lanka
Chandradasa, M., & Champika, L. (2018) · EXPLORE · doi:10.1016/j.explore.2017.09.011 · Cited by 4
[Evidence that suggest the reality of reincarnation].
Bonilla, E. (2015) · PubMed · Cited by 4
Stevenson (1990) · doi:10.1016/j.explore.2024.103063 · Cited by 3
Impact of children’s purported past-life memories: a follow-up investigation of American cases
Pehlivanova, M., Cozzolino, P. J., & Tucker, J. B. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1473340 · Cited by 4
“In both follow-up studies, however, a surprisingly high number of individuals who reported spontaneous PLMs as children (75% of Lebanese adults and 38% of Sri Lankan adults) claimed that they had retained some of their alleged memories.”
InfluentialMerlin, S. (2023) · International Journal of Transpersonal Studies · doi:10.24972/ijts.2023.42.1.43 · Cited by 2
“CORTs refers to the investigations of young children who reported memories of ostensible previous lives (e.g., Stevenson, 1974, 1977c, 1983, 1987, 2000a, 2003; Haraldsson, 2000a, 2000b, 2003; Pasricha, 2006, 2008a, 2008b; Tucker, 2005, 2007, 2013).”
BackgroundNew methodological directions for involving children in past life memories research
Thomas, D. M., Rycroft, E., Allan, K., & Sharif, S. (2026) · EXPLORE · doi:10.1016/j.explore.2025.103283 · Cited by 1
Haraldsson, E. (2014) · Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo) · doi:10.1590/0101-60830000041216 · Cited by 1
Self-citationBrainerd, C. J., & Reyna, V. F. (2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154054.003.0008 · Cited by 2
Controlling False Memories with Opponent Processes
Brainerd, C. J., & Reyna, V. F. (2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154054.003.0004 · Cited by 1
False Memory in Criminal Investigation
Brainerd, C. J., & Reyna, V. F. (2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154054.003.0007 · Cited by 1
The Nature of Consciousness: Contentless Consciousness Theory
Shiah, Y. (2023) · World Futures · doi:10.1080/02604027.2023.2226595 · Cited by 1
RESENHA CRÍTICA DO LIVRO “CIÊNCIA DA VIDA APÓS A MORTE”
Gontijo, D. F., & Gontijo, N. Á. D. Q. A. C. (2023) · Interações - cultura e comunidade · doi:10.5752/p.1983-2478.2023v18n2e182r01 · Cited by 1
What do the cases of the reincarnation type tell us about the mind beyond the brain?
Tucker, J. B. (2025) · International Review of Psychiatry · doi:10.1080/09540261.2025.2466484 · Cited by 1
“Some show behaviors similar to those seen in post-traumatic stress disorder (Haraldsson, 2003).”
False Memory in Criminal Investigation
(2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154054.003.0006 · Cited by 1
Slavoutski, S. (2012) · International Journal of Transpersonal Studies · doi:10.24972/ijts.2012.31.1.83 · Cited by 1
“…50 years have resulted in the accumulation of a vast body of evidence that supports possible plausibility of the reincarnation hypothesis (e.g., Haraldsson, 1991, 1997, 2000a, 2000b, 2003, 2008; Mills, 1988, 1990, Keywords: reincarnation hypothesis, past life, past-life experience, spontaneous…”
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Moreira‐Almeida, A., Costa, M. D. A., & Coelho, H. S. (2022) · SpringerBriefs in psychology · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-06056-4_5 · Cited by 1
Popular psychology, belief in life after death and reincarnation in the Nordic countries, Western
Europe, E., & Haraldsson, E. (2006)
Self-citation(2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154054.003.0009
(2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154054.003.0002
A New Method of Investigating Children Claiming to Have Prenatal and Perinatal Memories
Ohkado, M. (2018) · Journal of International Society of Life Information Science · doi:10.18936/islis.36.2_104
Erlendur Haraldsson: An Appreciation
Tucker, J. B. (2021) · Journal of Scientific Exploration · doi:10.31275/20212055
Non-Ordinary Mental Expressions (NOMEs): clues on the nature of the human mindPreprint
Facco, E., Pederzoli, L., & Tressoldi, P. E. (2020) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/ac2n7
“…(e.g., fear of water when the previous identity died by drowning). g) The psychological profile of these children shows greater verbal skills, better memory and school performance and more social activity than their peers and no meaningful psychiatric symptoms (Haealdsson, 1995; Haraldsson, 2003).”
Background(2012) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119977452.refs
Non-Ordinary Mental Expressions (NOMEs): Clues on the Nature of the Human MindPreprint
Facco, E., Pederzoli, L., & Tressoldi, P. E. (2020) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3552592
Brainerd, C. J., & Reyna, V. F. (2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154054.003.0001
Controlling False Memories with Opponent Processes
(2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154054.003.0005
(2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154054.002.0006
(2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154054.002.0004
(2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154054.002.0005
Die besten verfügbaren Beweise für das Leben nach dem Tod
Moreira‐Almeida, A., Costa, M. D. A., & Coelho, H. S. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-54545-0_5
de Carvalho, S. M., Tucker, J. B., & Moreira‐Almeida, A. (2025) · International Journal for the Psychology of Religion · doi:10.1080/10508619.2025.2521573
“(Cook et al., 1983; Haraldsson, 2003; Stevenson, 1983, 1990; Tucker, 2008) than what we found.”
Grand manuel de parapsychologie scientifique
Mutis, M., & Berghmans, C. (2025) · Dunod eBooks · doi:10.3917/dunod.evrar.2025.01.0318
Metadata
- Authors
- Haraldsson, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Iceland (IS)
- Corresponding author
- Haraldsson, Erlendur
- Venue
- Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2003-03
- Volume
- 76
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 55-67
- ISSN
- 1476-0835 (ISSN-L)
- 2044-8341
- OpenAlex
- W1965276419
- Cited by
- 49
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 7.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Fundação Bial
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Keywords
- past-life memories, children, reincarnation, dissociation, daydreaming, attention seeking, suggestibility, social isolation, post-traumatic stress disorder, Lebanon
- MeSH terms
- Child, Psychology, Child, Dissociative Disorders, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Memory, Psychological Tests, Psychological Theory, Speech, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Suggestion
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