Psychical Research and Parapsychology
Psychical Research and Parapsychology
Psychical Research and Parapsychology
The "paranormal" (beside or beyond the normal) refers to unusual experiences that do not seem to be explainable in terms of our everyday understanding or known scientific principles. Paranormal experiences often seem weird, uncanny, or unnatural. Typically they are quite rare but there are a few exceptional "stars" who have regular paranormal experiences and may show seemingly consistent paranormal ability. The term "Psychical Research" was coined in the late 19th Century. Many of the early psychical researchers were particularly interested in phenomena that suggested the survival of human personality after death (e.g., hauntings and mediumistic communications). The term "Parapsychology" was coined in the 1930s to refer specifically to controlled experimental research into apparently paranormal abilities such as ESP (e.g., telepathy and clairvoyance) and psychokinesis (mental influence on physical events). In recent years, both Psychical Research and Parapsychology have broadened their approaches so that a clear distinction between the two disciplines is no longer possible. Some modern researchers prefer to identify their approach as the study of "anomalies" rather than "paranormal" phenomena, in order to avoid the assumption that such phenomena cannot be explained scientifically.
Precognition and Premonitions Remote Viewing Mental mediumship Dowsing Past-life memories Possession Out of body and near death experiences Apparitions Automatic writing Xenoglossy
Psychokinesis Physical mediumship Psychic photography Thoughtography Healing Poltergeist activity Materialization and dematerialization Levitation
Bizarre coincidences Miracles Unidentified Flying Objects Other mysterious sightings Alien Abductions Animal Mutilations Corn Circles Stigmata Occult systems of knowledge and practice Psychological Phenomena (e.g., lucid dreaming, glossolalia).