Does "Twilight" prove vampires are real?

The hit movie "Twilight" not only may entertain moviegoers, it has the potential to encourage viewers to believe in vampires, says Glenn Sparks, professor of communication at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. "Research on paranormal beliefs shows that, when a fictional story is successfully presented in a realistic way, it can move people to believe--or at least move them away from disbelief and toward more uncertainty about the supernatural."

Sparks has published several studies about the effects supernatural television shows have on the way individuals form and adjust their beliefs about the supernatural. "This reminds me of what happened with the 1973 film 'The Exorcist.' Many people said they had never considered demon possession before, but some of those who saw the movie began thinking it was a possible phenomenon."

In addition to realistic depictions increasing a person's belief in the supernatural, Sparks suggests the believability is reinforced when the audience can relate to the characters. "Regarding any paranormal belief, when something is depicted as real but it really isn't, there is always some general concern about that because it blurs the line between reality and impossibility. This is certainly more likely with this film's young teenage audience."

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"Twilight" is based on the popular book series by Stephenie Meyer. The story, which is a romance and thriller, is about a teenage girl who falls in love with a vampire. Part of the storyline highlights vampires who are capable of living among humans.