Parapsychology, Telepathy, Psychokinesis and Poltergeist

Parapsychology is the study of psychic phenomena and extrasensory perception (ESP), focusing on experiences that cannot be explained by conventional science. This field explores abilities such as telepathy, precognition, clairvoyance, and psychokinesis, as well as investigating hauntings, poltergeists, and near-death experiences.

Who Invented It?

Parapsychology emerged in the late 19th century as part of the growing interest in spiritualism and the supernatural. Joseph Banks Rhine (J.B. Rhine) is considered the father of modern parapsychology. In the 1930s, at Duke University, he conducted experiments on ESP and psychokinesis, establishing a scientific framework for studying paranormal phenomena.

Main “Face” of Parapsychology:

J.B. Rhine is the most prominent figure associated with parapsychology. His research at Duke University led to the development of standardized tests for ESP, including the famous Zener cards (a set of five symbol cards used to test psychic abilities). Rhine’s work sought to legitimize the study of psychic phenomena through controlled experiments and statistical analysis.

Common Examples in Parapsychology:

1. Telepathy: The supposed ability to communicate thoughts directly from one mind to another without using traditional senses. For example, two people might claim to “sense” each other’s thoughts or emotions from a distance.
2. Precognition: The ability to foresee future events. Many people claim to have had precognitive dreams where something happens in real life that they “saw” in their dream beforehand.
3. Psychokinesis: The ability to move or influence objects with the mind. A famous claim involves people bending spoons or moving small objects without physical contact.

Bizarre Examples in Parapsychology:

1. Remote Viewing: In this phenomenon, individuals claim they can “see” or describe distant locations without physically being there. During the Cold War, both the U.S. and Soviet governments reportedly invested in remote viewing research as part of military intelligence.
2. Poltergeists: Reports of unseen forces moving objects, causing disturbances, or even injuring people in a haunted location are common examples investigated by parapsychologists. Such events are often bizarre and controversial.

Greatest Achievement of Parapsychology:

The greatest achievement of parapsychology is its scientific framework for studying paranormal phenomena, which has allowed researchers to conduct controlled experiments on psychic abilities like ESP. The Rhine Research Center, founded by J.B. Rhine, remains a significant institution for parapsychological study. His work brought statistical methods to parapsychology, helping make the study of psychic phenomena more rigorous, if not universally accepted.

Greatest Mysterious Case in Parapsychology:

One of the most famous and mysterious cases in parapsychology is the Enfield Poltergeist in 1977. In Enfield, England, a family reported strange and violent disturbances, such as objects being thrown, voices heard, and furniture moving on its own. The case drew widespread media attention, and parapsychologists investigated the phenomena. Although skeptics suggested fraud or misinterpretation, the case remains one of the most famous unsolved paranormal mysteries, often cited by paranormal enthusiasts as evidence of the supernatural.

In summary, parapsychology seeks to explore phenomena that fall outside of mainstream science, attempting to understand the mysteries of the mind and the unseen world. It continues to be a field of great debate and fascination.

Telepathy

Despite widespread interest and numerous studies over the years, telepathy—the ability to communicate thoughts directly from one person’s mind to another—has not been conclusively proven in any scientifically accepted manner. While there have been anecdotal cases and experiments that suggest the possibility of telepathy, these have not been reliably replicated under rigorous scientific conditions.

Notable Cases and Experiments in Telepathy:

1. J.B. Rhine’s Telepathy Experiments (1930s):
   • At Duke University, J.B. Rhine conducted extensive experiments on extrasensory perception (ESP), including telepathy. He used Zener cards, which feature simple symbols (circle, square, wavy lines, cross, star). A “sender” would focus on a card, and the “receiver” would try to identify the symbol telepathically.
   • Some results showed statistical deviations from chance, which Rhine interpreted as evidence of telepathy. However, his findings were later criticized for methodological flaws, such as poor controls and inadequate documentation. Later attempts to replicate the results with stricter methods generally failed.
2. Ganzfeld Experiments (1970s-1980s):
   • A more modern approach to testing telepathy is the Ganzfeld experiment, where a “receiver” is put into a relaxed, sensory-deprived state (to enhance receptivity), while a “sender” tries to transmit visual information (a picture or video).
   • Some studies have claimed statistically significant results suggesting telepathy, but skeptics argue that the effects were small and could be explained by chance, bias, or flawed experimental procedures. Replication attempts have yielded mixed results, and no conclusive proof of telepathy has been found.
3. The Stargate Project (1970s-1995):
   • During the Cold War, the U.S. government funded research into psychic phenomena, including telepathy, under the Stargate Project. This secret program sought to use telepathy, remote viewing, and other psychic abilities for intelligence purposes.
   • Despite some initial excitement and reports of success from psychic “operatives,” such as Ingo Swann, scientific evaluations of the project concluded that the results were unreliable and could not be replicated. The project was eventually shut down in 1995 due to a lack of consistent evidence.

Telekinesis

Telekinesis, also known as psychokinesis (PK), is the purported ability to move or manipulate objects using only the mind. While there have been numerous claims and experiments attempting to demonstrate telekinesis, there is no scientific proof that telekinesis has ever been reliably demonstrated or replicated under controlled conditions.

Notable Claims and Experiments:

1. Nina Kulagina (1960s, Soviet Union):
   • Nina Kulagina, a Russian woman, gained international attention in the 1960s for her alleged telekinetic abilities. In various demonstrations, she appeared to move small objects, like matchsticks or a compass needle, without touching them.
   • Soviet scientists studied her abilities, and some films exist showing her moving objects, but many skeptics argue that these demonstrations lacked proper controls and could have involved sleight of hand or trickery. No independent replication of her abilities under strict scientific conditions has ever been achieved.

1. The Philip Experiment (1972, Canada):
   • This experiment, conducted by a group of parapsychologists in Toronto, was designed to see if a fictional ghost named “Philip” could manifest psychokinetic phenomena. The group created a fictional backstory for Philip and held séances to contact him. Over time, the group reported objects moving and strange knocking sounds, which they attributed to “Philip.”
   • However, the results were likely influenced by group psychology or expectations, and many see this experiment as an example of the power of suggestion rather than genuine telekinesis.
2. Stanford Research Institute (1970s):
   • Researchers like Harold Puthoff and Russell Targ conducted experiments on psychic phenomena, including psychokinesis, as part of the U.S. government’s Stargate Project. One of their famous subjects was Uri Geller, an Israeli performer known for his spoon-bending acts.
   • Geller demonstrated his abilities under loosely controlled conditions, but many scientists and skeptics, including famous magician James Randi, suggested that his feats were accomplished using simple magic tricks. Geller’s abilities were not replicated under tighter controls.

3. James Hydrick (1980):

   • Hydrick claimed to have telekinetic powers, including the ability to move small objects, such as pages of a book, by just concentrating. He appeared on TV shows like “That’s Incredible!” to showcase his powers.
   • However, in a famous episode of “That’s My Line,” hosted by James Randi, Hydrick failed to demonstrate his abilities under controlled conditions. When Randi placed small Styrofoam pieces around the book, it became clear that Hydrick’s “telekinesis” was likely caused by blowing air subtly, not mental powers.