An Introduction to the Psychology of Paranormal Belief and Experience
An Introduction to the Psychology of Paranormal Belief and Experience

Author: Tony Jinks

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2011-11-08

Total Pages: 275

ISBN-13: 0786489162

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When someone admits to a strange experience, such as witnessing an unidentified flying object, having telepathic hunches, or seeing angels or ghosts, listeners usually explain it away as mistaken perception, intoxication, ignorance, or even mental illness. Though these unsympathetic psychology-based explanations remain the most popular responses to claims of the supernatural, those who use them often have little understanding of what such dismissive "solutions" actually entail. This study offers a balanced and accessible analysis of various explanations for the paranormal. By providing insight into how these theories are applied, or misapplied, to inquiry into the paranormal, it clarifies the relationship between the field of psychology and the supernatural. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

The Psychology of Paranormal Belief
The Psychology of Paranormal Belief

Author: Harvey J. Irwin

Publisher: Univ of Hertfordshire Press

Published: 2009-09

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 1907396381

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With a thorough and systematic review of investigations into the bases of belief in paranormal phenomena, this discussion explores the four main theoretical approaches relating to the nature of such beliefs. Objective and well-researched, this account addresses different points of view on the topic--while some commentators depict paranormal believers as foolish, others propose that paranormal beliefs must be understood as necessities that serve certain psychodynamic needs. The foundations and shortcomings of each approach are also documented, and a new comprehensive theory attempts to explain the development of scientifically unsubstantiated beliefs.

Anomalistic Psychology
Anomalistic Psychology

Author: Christopher C. French

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2017-09-16

Total Pages: 346

ISBN-13: 1137368063

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The science behind claims of alien encounters and visions of ghosts can be even more fascinating than the sensationalist headlines. What leads some people to believe in the paranormal? Why might someone think they have been abducted by aliens? And is there any room for superstition in the modern world of science? Anomalistic Psychology - Provides a lively and thought-provoking introduction to the psychology underlying paranormal belief and experience. - Covers the latest psychological theories and experiments, and examines the science at the heart of the subject. - Uses a unique approach to apply different psychological perspectives – including clinical, developmental and cognitive approaches – to shed new light on the key debates. Whether you are a psychology student or simply curious about the paranormal, Anomalistic Psychology is the essential introduction to this contested and controversial field. Belief in the paranormal has been reported in every known society since the dawn of time – find out why.

The Psychology of the Paranormal
The Psychology of the Paranormal

Author: David Groome

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-04-01

Total Pages: 101

ISBN-13: 1351391127

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Can mediums communicate with the dead? Do people really believe they’ve been abducted by aliens? Why do some people make life decisions based on their horoscope? The Psychology of the Paranormal explores some commonly held beliefs regarding experiences so strange they can defy an obvious scientific explanation. The book explains how psychologists have conducted experiments to provide insight into phenomena such as clairvoyance, astrology, and alien abduction, as well as teaching us fundamental truths about human belief systems. From debunking myths about Extra Sensory Perception, to considering whether our lives can truly be fated by the stars, The Psychology of the Paranormal shows us that however unlikely, belief in the paranormal will continue to be widespread.

Parapsychology and Religion
Parapsychology and Religion

Author: Everton de Oliveira Maraldi

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2021-06-29

Total Pages: 103

ISBN-13: 9004467831

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Everton Maraldi explores how research on alleged anomalous processes informs the study of religious/spiritual experiences and examines the theoretical and methodological possibilities and challenges of an interdisciplinary dialogue between parapsychology and psychology of religion.

An Introduction to Parapsychology
An Introduction to Parapsychology

Author: Harvey J. Irwin

Publisher:

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 416

ISBN-13:

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This is a new edition of our acclaimed university textbook on the science of parapsychology. Dr. Irwin outlines the origins of parapsychological research and critically reviews investigations of extrasensory perception, psychokinesis, poltergeist phenomena, near-death and out-of-body experiences, and survival of death. Also, criticisms by the skeptical are presented, and the status of parapsychology as a scientific enterprise is assessed. Reviews of earlier editions: Comprehensive...well written...high quality.... Recommended for public, college and university libraries--Choice; clear...organization is excellent--The Journal of Parapsychology; fills the gap because it is up to date, formally written, and wide in scope...a particularly useful resource for students and teachers alike...as a textbook, Irwin's book is the best of its kind--Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Disappearing Object Phenomenon
Disappearing Object Phenomenon

Author: Tony Jinks

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2016-10-14

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 0786498609

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Have you ever had your car keys or television remote control inexplicably vanish from under your nose, only to reappear months later in another part of the house for no evident reason? Most would dismiss it as absent-mindedness, with perhaps a joking remark about paranormal activity. Yet remarkable circumstances surrounding many such accounts suggest that the mysterious disappearance of objects could be more than "just one of those things." Examining a large selection of fascinating narratives, this book reviews the "disappearing object phenomenon" (DOP) from a scientific standpoint. Both skeptical and supportive perspectives on DOP are considered, leading to the conclusion that disappearing, appearing and reappearing objects are indicators of a controversial take on the nature of reality.

Ghosted!
Ghosted!

Author: Brian Laythe

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2022-07-05

Total Pages: 269

ISBN-13: 1476685770

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Reports of paranormal experiences vary tremendously, but are often associated with ghosts, haunted houses, and otherwise eerie circumstances. There exist both classic and modern texts on ghosts and haunted or possessed people, places and spaces; many discuss traditional ideas regarding such phenomena or utilize now-outdated research in highly academic and technical ways. This book offers a very different approach in reviews provided by a leading-edge research program devoted to who has ghostly experiences and why. With new insights both global in scale and multidisciplinary in scope, this collaboration by five researchers uncovers consistent evidence that anomalous experiences represent a very real "Haunted People Syndrome"--a term describing anomalous experiences that manifest recurrently to the same percipients and are interpreted as "ghostly"--with implications for future research across academia. The participation of new citizen scientists (the field investigators and researchers among us) is invited in furthering the exploration of paranormal mysteries. Photos and figures illustrating concepts and models are included, as is a glossary.

Paranormal Experience and Survival of Death
Paranormal Experience and Survival of Death

Author: Carl B. Becker

Publisher: SUNY Press

Published: 1993-01-01

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 9780791414750

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This text amasses data and surveys from a century of research on the paranormal on four continents: Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Studying the tensions between religious and scientific perspectives, the author reviews numerous substantiated accounts of demon-possession, of memories of past lives, of ghostly apparitions, and out-of-body experiences. He analyzes the medical evidence and what such experiences imply about survival after death. The author then looks at the reasons for the taboos on scientific discussion of such research within the social sciences, and proposes a new paradigm for a more holistic view of the field.

Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences
Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences

Author: Virgil Zeigler-Hill

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2020-03-11

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9783319246109

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This Encyclopedia provides a comprehensive overview of individual differences within the domain of personality, with major sub-topics including assessment and research design, taxonomy, biological factors, evolutionary evidence, motivation, cognition and emotion, as well as gender differences, cultural considerations, and personality disorders. It is an up-to-date reference for this increasingly important area and a key resource for those who study intelligence, personality, motivation, aptitude and their variations within members of a group.