2. Definition:
The term parapsychology (also known as psi
phenomena) originates from para meaning
"alongside", and psychology(study of mind).
Parapsychologists study a number of
apparent paranormal phenomena,
including telepathy, precognition, clairvoyance, psych
okinesis, near-death experiences and reincarnation.
3. History:
The
term parapsychology
was coined in or around
1889 by
philosopher Max
Dessoir.
4. The Society for Psychical
Research(SPR) was founded in
London in late 19th century. The
formation of the SPR was the first
systematic effort to organize
scientists and scholars for a
critical and sustained
investigation of paranormal
phenomena.
William James fully supported
this work.
5. Rhine Era:
In 1911, Stanford
University became the first
academic institution in the United
States to study extrasensory
perception (ESP) in a laboratory
setting.
The publication of J.B. Rhine's
book, New Frontiers of the
Mind (1937) brought the
laboratory's findings to the general
public. Joseph Banks Rhine
6. The 1970s and 1980s:
The affiliation of the Parapsychological Association
(PA) with the American Association for the
Advancement of Science in the 1970s, led to a decade
of increased parapsychological research.
In 1985 a Chair of Parapsychology was established
within the Department of Psychology at
the University of Edinburgh.
7. Most Recent Developements:
Since the 1980s, contemporary
parapsychological research has
waned considerably in the United
States.Early research was considered
inconclusive, and parapsychologists
were faced with strong opposition
from their academic colleagues.
Rupert Sheldrake is an English
biochemist. He is known for his
Rupert Sheldrake
research into parapsychology.
8. Kirlian Photography:
Some effects thought to be paranormal, for example
the effects of Kirlian Photography.
Kirlian photography is a collection of photographic
techniques used to capture the phenomenon of
electrical discharges. It is named after Semyon
Kirlian, who, in 1939 accidentally discovered that if
an object on a photographic plate is connected to a
high-voltage source, an image is produced on the
photographic plate.
10. Scope:
Parapsychologists study a
number of ostensible
paranormal phenomena,
including but not limited to:
Telepathy: Transfer of
information on thoughts or
feelings between individuals
by means other than the five
classical senses.
11. Ganzfeld Experiment:
•The Ganzfeld (German for "whole
field") is a technique used to test
individuals for telepathy.
•In this picture a participant of
a Ganzfeld experiment, which
proponents say shows evidence
of telepathy.
12. Scope:cont...
Precognition: Perception of
information about future places or
events before they occur.
The existence of precognition, as
Complex Presentiment:
with other forms of extrasensory Half-Figure in a Yellow
perception, is not accepted as other Shirt by Kazimir
than a purely psychological process Malevich.
by the mainstream scientific
community because no replicable
demonstration, "on demand", has
ever been achieved.[
13. Scope:contn...
Clairvoyance: Obtaining
information about places or
events at remote locations, by
means unknown to current
science.
Parapsychology, including
the study of clairvoyance, is
an example of pseudoscience.
14. Scope:contn...
Psychokinesis: The ability of
the mind to influence matter,
time, space, or energy by means
unknown to current science.
Some psychokinesis researchers
claim psychokinesis exists and
deserves further study, although
the focus of research has shifted
away from large-scale
phenomena to small
phenomena.
15. Scope:contn...
Near-death experiences: An
experience reported by a person who
nearly died, or who
experienced clinical death and then
revived.
NDEs include one or more of the
following experiences: a sense of being
dead; a sensation of floating above
one's body and seeing the surrounding
area; a sense of overwhelming love and
peace; a sensation of moving upwards
through a tunnel; encountering a
being of light,
16. Scope:contn...
Reincarnation: The rebirth of a
soul or other non-physical aspect
of human consciousness in a new
physical body after death.
It is specifically the study of "cases
of the reincarnation type", that is,
cases in which a young child
"spontaneously makes remarks
about a previous life he would
have led before his birth“.(Central
belief of Hinduism).
17. Issues and Debates:
Parapsychological theories are
currently viewed
as pseudoscientific by the
scientific community as they are
incompatible with well
established laws of science.
Scientists critical of
parapsychology stated
parapsychology as clustering Fabricated images
illusion, availability error, illusion of ghosts such as this
of control or magical thinking. were very popular in the
19th century
18. Issues and Debates:contn...
Critical analysts, including some
parapsychologists, are not satisfied
with experimental parapschology
studies, contend that apparently
successful experimental results in psi
research are more likely due to
poorly trained researchers, or
methodological flaws rather than to
genuine psi effects.
Stage magician and skeptic ,James James Randi
Randi has demonstrated that magic
tricks can simulate or duplicate some
supposedly psychic phenomena.
19. Special Thanks To:
Dr Amra who provided us that very opportunity and her
permission to work on this topic.
Sources and Reference Books:
