PARAPSYCHOLOGY

DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO STUDYING THE PARANORMAL.

This is to briefly highlight seven different approaches towards studying alleged paranormal activities and events.  

Each approach is useful in its own right, but it's often only when we combine different approaches that we can get a better idea of a situation.  For example, a  Survey Method on its own is interesting, but to get a larger picture of events we'll need to adopt a further approach to expand on the data received.

SURVEY METHOD:     

This is essentially a questionnaire, whereby data and information concerning any event can be ascertained.

Naturally, this helps to answer initial key questions associated with 'what happened/what is happening?'

Additionally, questionnaires can be tailored to extract extra information to shed light on possible conscious/unconscious psychological issues associated with the witness/witnesses, including possible areas of bias concerning previous experiences of the paranormal, religious beliefs, etc. 

SPONTANEOUS CASE RESEARCH:

This approach focuses around the investigation of incidents as they occur and is most often linked towards alleged hauntings and haunted locations. 

The type of investigations popularly seen on TV with such shows as 'Ghost Hunters' are demonstrations of this type of approach.

SINGLE CASE STUDIES:

This approach is used most often with the testing of psychics, or those claiming to possess strong psychic/ESP/telepathic behaviour. 

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH:

This individual approach is associated with the assumption that everyone possesses some form of psychic/telepathic ability. 

Experiments would therefore build upon this assumption and seek to uncover greater depth and understanding. 

PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACH:

This is an approach which focuses solely upon the experience itself and adopts a 'this is what happened' format.

This is the approach used often by authors of paranormal/ghost books, whereby the reported details of events are written down; often with no attempt to explain or examine the events, but merely to record them.

PROOF-ORIENTATED APPROACH:

This approach is used mostly when examining alleged paranormal events, whereby the object is to adopt a neutral attitude, focusing on a search for rational, scientific explanations behind reported phenomena.

e.g.  This house is reportedly haunted.  

Let's find strictly scientific evidence to back this claim up, or disprove it.

PROCESS-ORIENTATED APPROACH:

This approach is used when examining alleged paranormal events, whereby the object is to adopt an open-minded attitude, focusing on the initial viewpoint that paranormal phenomena already exists.

Subsequent experiments are built upon this notion 

e.g.  This house is reportedly haunted.  

Let's assume that it is and attempt to build upon this notion to discover more details on who is haunting the house and why.

------------------------------------

------------------------------------

WHAT IS PARAPSYCHOLOGY?

Answer: This largely depends upon who you ask.  

--------------------------------------------

Here are some historical definitions of parapsychology:

'A branch of psychology concerned with paranormal phenomena'.

(Reber, 1995 - 'Dictionary of Psychology')

'The scientific field that is concerned with interactions, both sensory and motor, that seems not to be mediated by any recognised physical mechanisms or agency'.

(Rush, 1986.)

'The scientific study of psi phenomena'.

(Radin, 1997)

'The study of mental phenomena which are excluded from, or inexplicable by, orthodox scientific psychology (such as hypnosis, telepathy, etc.)'

(Google definition, 2014)

'Parapsychology is a field of study concerned with the investigation of paranormal and psychic phenomena.  Parapsychologists study telepathy, precognition, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, near-death experiences, reincarnation, apparitional experiences and other supernatural & paranormal claims.

Parapsychology research is largely conducted by private institutions in several different countries and funded through private donations and the subject rarely appears in mainstream science journals.  Most papers about parapsychology are published in a small number of niche journals.  Most scientists regard parapsychology as 'pseudoscience'. Parapsychology has been criticised for continuing investigation, despite being unable to provide convincing evidence for the existence of any psychic phenomena after more than a century of research.

(Wikipedia - unknown author(s) - 2014)

--------------------------------------

And so, with a first step, we arrive at the opening problem facing any student of parapsychology; no-one is quite sure precisely what exact shape it is, or what it covers.

Some courses in parapsychology focus upon the study of vastly different things.  In my own studies I was taught that parapsychology is NOT any of the following:

Psychiatry (delusional beliefs)

The Occult (witchcraft, demons, spells, etc)

Cryptozoology (monsters, legends, etc)

Ufology (the study of aliens and U.F.O.s)

However, some study courses in parapsychology cover some, or all, of these areas.  It's certainly true that some elements of each of these subjects can cross over into parapsychological study  - for example, while parapsychology might not cover the existence of extra-terrestrial life in our universe, if there were aliens...and if they did visit Earth and come into contact with humans...and if that did involve some type of telepathy or psychokinesis, then both of these areas are clearly of interest to parapsychologists.

Likewise, if someone is suffering from a delusional, psychiatric condition then this is not anything of a paranormal nature - unless we still live in the Middle Ages and therefore believe them to be a witch/warlock. 

However, if that person is suffering from a condition such as schizophrenia (leaving them susceptible towards delusions), Parietal Lobe Disturbance (experiencing a presence/presences), Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (hallucinations) or Cerebral Anoxia (apparitions and feelings similar to Near-Death Experiences) then clearly this is of interest to any student of parapsychology. 

    The main opening problem for anyone exploring parapsychology concerns the extremely diverse range and personal experiences of fellow students, also approaching the subject.  

People of many, differing academic backgrounds approach parapsychology - each with their own individual insights, judgements and expectations.

Furthermore, the range of different topics covered by parapsychology is both very diverse - and probably impervious to universal agreement.  On top of this, the topics themselves are controversial by nature, especially when there is historical large-scale disagreement on the data collected.

The role of media and social acceptance must also be taken into account.  Media portrayal of people who claim to observe paranormal events tends not to be kind or flattering.  Social acceptance of the paranormal remains in a similar light and it is certainly not uncommon for people to be derided or mocked for sharing paranormal accounts.  More on that later.

There are vastly differing approaches towards studying parapsychology.  (See above)

SURVEY METHODS

SPONTANEOUS CASE RESEARCH

SINGLE CASE STUDIES

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES

PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACHES

PROOF-ORIENTATED STUDIES

PROCESS-ORIENTATED STUDIES

Each of these different approaches varies from the other - some greatly, such as proof and process orientated research...one assumes a purely scientific, rational search for evidence of paranormal phenomena, while the other assumes a starting viewpoint that paranormal phenomena already exists and seeks to build upon this premise for further observation.

Finally, on top of the vastly differing backgrounds, the huge range of topics to cover, negative media portrayal, controversial and highly debatable data from experiments and the greatly differing approaches to parapsychology, any student has to be aware of potential bias and personal judgements (including religious attitudes) that can determine the direction and tone of personal accounts and viewpoints.

This swings both ways - both FOR and AGAINST a belief in any aspect of the paranormal.   

I've always personally viewed this as a giant 'see-saw'.  

At either end of our see-saw, we have the 'extremists' - one group who categorically believe in paranormal/spiritual worlds & possibilities and who tend to see this reflected in everything around them in this world.

Sat directly on the opposite edge of the see-saw, we have the cynics...those who flatly refuse to accept that the paranormal/spiritual worlds & possibilities do not exist and never have.  

According to what end of the see-saw you are seated, everything in the known universe can be explained by either science or God.

Of course the irony is that while both these groups would see themselves as the antithesis of the opposing, 'enemy' group, the reality is that they are both very similar in nature.

Let's have some fun and compare a group of close-minded cynics to a group of strongly religious people.

Both groups adopt strict agendas and rigid arguments.

Both groups are trying to 'sell' ideas to anyone who will listen.

Both groups are inflexible in their ideologies.

Both groups believe categorically that only they are correct.

Both groups strongly believe that the other group is incorrect.

Both groups tend to ignore or deflect criticism.

Both groups use anecdotal 'evidence' to 'prove' their arguments.

Upon reflection, the best and most effective process of parapsychology is to be as close to the centre - or the fulcrum - of the see-saw as possible.  It is also vital to remember to 'reset' the mental positioning after each experiment or study case, before moving on to the next.

BIAS

    It's common knowledge that some cynical groups and individuals alter and change online information, in order to present it in their own words. 

Why they do this is baffling to me, but I also think that it pushes them even closer to the mindset of the opposing group at the other end of the see-saw, whereby it becomes fundamentally vital to 'share the good news' with everyone and let them know the 'truth' - or at least the truth as they understand it.

In the Wikipedia article above (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parapsychology) it's clear to see that the writer(s) employ a strong bias about what they want readers to think when reading the article.

Solely from the short, opening paragraph, readers are informed that:

Parapsychologists work in very small groups and usually only with the financial donation and assistance of others.

When published, parapsychologists' reports are only read in 'a small number of niche' journals.

The vast majority of scientists think parapsychology is complete nuts.

Despite over a 'century of research', no 'convincing' evidence has ever been found.

In short, parapsychologists tend to operate at the edge of society in small groups.  Their work is read largely by themselves and a small group of friends, each of whom likely has some form of mental issues. Ultimately, they are working towards no real purpose and completely wasting their time.  The poor, wretched sods.

Assassination project completed.

Thankfully, there are many people who explore the vastness of parapsychology with a more open-minded outlook; those who are prepared to not simply rely on the anecdotal evidence of others to reinforce their arguments, but rather people who are prepared to go look for themselves and make up their own minds. 

If one can get past the opening set of mental & social barriers currently in place by large parts of society and the scientific community, then it's fair to say that a world of discovery awaits us all.  

Each study in parapsychology is personal and individual, but without employing that explorative process, our personal philosophies involve merely trotting out the words and thoughts of other people.

Anecdotes can be truly inspiring, but if we want to gain understanding on something(s) then surely it is best to do it for ourselves?   :)