We hypothesized that magical thinking, a persistent constellation of beliefs about causality that defy logic and reason, is a driver of fanship among fans of fictional texts. In a survey of 259 adults’ fanship for fictional narratives, links were observed between a tendency to engage in magical thinking and strength of fan identification, text-based fan behavior, and fan community-based fan behavior. These links are particularly true for patterns of thought consistent with sympathetic magic, or the notion that association with an outstanding entity can result in the transfer of some energy or “essence.” Results were discussed in terms of motives for fan behavior and community participation, as well as series preferences, by fans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

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