Parapsychology is the study of anomalous phenomena such as ghosts, psychic facilities, and other unusual occurrences that seem preposterous to mainstream science. Psychical (“of the spirit world”) research was used to describe such research until 1889, when German philospher and psychologist Max Dessoir called it parapsychology.
By that time, there was already an organization studying the paranormal in London. The Society for Psychical Research (SPR) was founded in 1882 by educated men that wanted to critically examine seemingly impossible reports. In 1886, they published the book Phantasms of the Living which catagorized supernatural occurances and has become invaluable to out understanding of the paranormal. In 1890, the affiliate group, the American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR), was created in the United States. However, most of their time was soon spent investigating potentially fraudulant mediums who could allegedly produce physical phenomena, such as objects levitating, phantom sounds and even formed apparitions.
In 1957, Doctor Joseph Banks “J. B.” Rhine, Director of the Duke Laboratory and publisher of the Journal of Parapsychology which has been running since 1937, created the Rhine Research Center Institute for Parasychology in Durham, North Carolina. That same year he created the Parapsychological Association, a society for professional parapsychologyists.
In the 1960s there was again a rise of interest in the supernatural, and in 1969, the Parapsychological Association merged with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Parapsychologists were again detoured from the world of ghosts and spirits and turned their attention to psychic phenomena.
Why hasn’t science found any concrete proof of ghosts and hauntings?
In the majority of cases, paranormal phenomena are subjective and not observable to others. Even when the phenomena are objective they are most often than not unable to withstand the scientific method, being able to repeat the process for testing. Even then, the human mind has the uncanny ability to dissociate from any unusual events that doesn’t fit into what we perceive the world should be. It quickly tries to rationalize anomalies and doubt their occurances.
What's the deal with Ouija Boards?
Most skeptics believe that the planchette movements are only automatism, or unconscious muscular twitches, as evident from strings of senseless letters and numbers that are revealed. There is also the idea that automatic suggestion plays a key role in messages, and that the mind will anticipate the next letter or number coming up and unconsciously push it in said direction. Regardless, it seems that whatever a person’s personal beliefs are about the board dictate the messages that come through. If a person was raised to believe the board has some diabolical connection, then most likely they will have a very negative experience.
Sometimes when I’m in bed I feel a presence over me that sometimes sit on my chest and suffocate me. I often wake up unable to move and see and hear horrible things. Is my house haunted by an evil spirit?
More than likely, no. Hypnogogia is a common condition many people suffer from. It causes hallucinations upon falling asleep or waking up. The most commonly reported cases are jerks while trying to fall asleep, or when someone is startled awake because they think they are falling. To deal with this problem, you will need to visit a doctor.
Can a ghost touch me?
A spirit most certainly can touch you, but there hasn’t been a reported case where someone has been injured. More than likely, the sensation will cause goosebumps.
I think my house is haunted, could you come investigate?
Perhaps it is because there is so much iron ore in the area, or maybe it is because of a unique sociological class. It could be that telling ghost stories are a fun, exciting way for regional history and local legends to be remembered.
Why are ghosts seen more at night?
Rick Strassman has done some groundbreaking research into an endogenous chemical our bodies produce called Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). In DMT: The Spirit Molecule: A Doctor's Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences, he explains that the longer a person is without sunlight, the more of this hallucinatory chemical our bodies produce. An abundance of the chemical can, he believes, create the subjective experience of seeing or hearing a ghost.
Why can’t I be in a cemetery at night?
If the cemetery is on private property, you will more than likely have to get permission to visit it. These cemeteries will also dictate when visiting hours are and strictly enforce them. If the cemetery is not private, however, you can only be there at night if you have a family member buried there. Don’t be surprised, however, if the police are called. With rampant vandalism taking place in so many historical cemeteries, they are just doing their job and looking out for the well being of the cemetery. They won’t know that’s not what you’re doing. You can’t really fault them for that, can you?
I know of this creepy old house. Have you been there?
Perhaps it’s only natural that we have a fixation with these places. But don’t let a healthy curiosity temp you into trespassing. Vandalism is a big problem with this kind of place, and it quickly becomes an insurance liability to the owner. You also become an insurance liability when you trespass. This kind of place is called stigmatized property, and the police will be called if you are reported. If you can’t stay away, go to the tax assessor’s office at the county courthouse the house is in and ask who owns it. You can contact the owner and ask permission.
Paranormal Research & Investigation
Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia & Western North Carolina
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