history of parapsychology

8/8/2019 History of Parapsychology

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A History of Parapsychology

Lecture 3

Parapsychology

Kevin Silber


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An Overview

In this lecture we will cover:

Antiquity and spiritualism Psychical research begins

Move towards controlled studies


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Antiquity

Greek and Roman clairvoyance and dreams - from the gods,

but some (Aristotle) - function of mind;

Oracle (institutionalized psychic reader)common,

e.g., Delphi - King Croesus of Lydiasinvasion of Persia.


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Judaeo-Christian

many biblical accounts of psi,

including clairvoyant and precognitivedreams,apparitions, visions, mediums.

Prospero - 18th Centuryobservations through study

Not limited to religious devotees

All kinds of people

Not divine or demonic agencies

Innate capabilities.


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Naturalistic Approach

Based around natural phenomena -magnetism and electricity

Mesmer (1778) magnetized patients.

Some went into a trance/sleep.

On waking psychic phenomenadreams, hearing instructions. Healing.

Did not invoke spirits a naturalcapability.


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More Spiritualism

Movement spread (particularly in US).

Many mediums.

Writing on slates, voices, clairvoyantdiagnoses, table tipping.

Faraday test - wooden platform (on

rollers) on table moved first, somuscular.

But=>ouija board.


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D.D. Home

US mediums arrival in Britain, 1859

(year of Origin of Species.

Many PK activists (spiritualism notevoked).

Incorporation of PK within seances.

=>consolidate paranormal phenomena.


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Psychical Research

Society for Psychical Research (SPR) startedin Cambridge, 1882.

Physicists and spiritualistsbut spiritualists left.Very unpopular but a number of prominentmembers (professors, Fellows of RoyalSociety).

Investigate wide range of phenomena (ESP

and communication with spirits). Davey a medium - using distraction.

Personal accounts and photos


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Group Captain Victor Goddard kept this rather strange picture. The photo was taken following the last mission ofthis group. In the photo appears the face of an airman who was killed several days before the photo was taken,when he walked into the rotating propellor of a plane.


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1900-1930

Work with mediums, e.g., Leonara Piperinvestigated for use of trance voice andautomatic voices.

In spite of precautions no evidence offraud.

So? At least ESP.

Control personalities relationship withpsychiatry?


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Survival research

Purpose of SPR not purely scientific.

Shaken by Darwin.

Survival of spirit. How to verify?

Cross correspondence.

But not clear so declining research insurvival.


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Physical Manifestations

Marthe Berauad (1905) ectoplasmappearance. But in test conditions withRichet minimal

Stella Cranshaw (1925) and RudiScheider (1930). Strict conditions =>manifestations.

Also hauntings and poltergeists


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The Modern Era

J.B. Rhine

Scientific Investigation - systematic

(Stats from Fisher) Duke Uni Labs (then Rhine Research

Center)

Focus on ordinary people J of Parapsychology (1937).


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Media - The return of Stars

Yuri Geller

David Blaine

Derren Brown Mediums

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