ParaStudy - Home of the Minnesota Paranormal Study Group

Intro to Parapsychology

Parapsychology is defined as the scientific and scholarly study of certain unusual events associated with the human experience.

Any study of parapsychology is used to deal with an anomalous subject, which means that conventional science currently is unable to produce an answer.

The anomalous categories for study fall into three categories:

- ESP
- Psychokinesis
- After Body Death i.e. ghosts, hauntings.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What exactly do parapsychologists study?

- Telepathy- Out of Body Experiences (OBE)
- Precognitions- Reincarnation
- Clairvoyance- Hauntings
- Extra Sensorary Perception (ESP)- Poltergeist
- Psychokinesis (PK)- Psi ( label X for parapsych.)
- Bio-PK- Near death experiences (NDE)

What is NOT parapsychology:

- UFO's- Bigfoot- Paganism- Vampires- Alchemy- Witchcraft- Miss Cleo- Magicians

Parapsychology is often linked by association with the broad range of "psychic" entertainers and magicians. We do not consult our crystal balls on the subject.

Like any other field of science, parapsychology changes and grows for the better. (From Zener cards to modern EEG mechines and EMFs.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Why is it so interesting?

A.) It shows that current science knowledge about the universe is incomplete.
B.) The capabilities and limitations of human potential is underestimated.
C.) Fundamental and philosophical assumptions of mind and body operate differently.
D.) The religious assumptions of miracles may have been mistaken.

- Physicists --> implications of

- Biologists --> because it shines new light on this world and how we sense it.

- Psychologists --> because it displays a new side to memory and perception.

- Philosophers --> nature of objective vs. subjective; role of mind in physical world.

- Theologians and public --> personal reasons; spiritual reasons.

-Given the knowlege of today, many think that when the body dies, you die. A person is deceased and what we call the soul does not exist. This is the way the current scientific field displays it. Main reason the BBNS System. (Body, Brain, and Nervous System.) This is also known as the material functioning method.

Murphy's Law - If any thing can go wrong, it will.

- Unlike current science, controls in the field and parapsychology can not be controlled. This labels an X factor to ALL experiments and field work. Hence why the results are not something that will jump out at the general public. <Brings FRAUDILITY Prejudice>

Such X factors include people's moods and environment.

Implications of PSI> Missing People, Handicapped help, etc.

Major Research Approaches:

- Scholarly research- Case studies- Experimental
- Analytical research- Theortical research
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Experiments!
- PK on Random Number Generators (RNG)
- PK on living systems
- ESP in the ganzfeld
- Remote Viewing

Methodologies: The need to eliminate all contact methods with control and target.

Know about the target: how it works, what might affect it. (lab)

Know about the field: how people can interact with each other. Environmental effects also.

Must know chance rates in both studies.

FIELD WORK = RAW EXPERIENCE

Must also be aware of cultural, psychological, and religous characteristics of eye witnesses.

Avoid jumping to conclusions, look at natural causes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Criticisms
Prejudicial positions about the field being a "pseudo-science"are often common among authoritarian figures in the conventional fields of science.

Psi phenomena do not apply according to the current principles of science, and thus are impossible.
Ask Galileo about this criticism.

Parapsychology does not have a repeatable science.

-Psi doesn't exist? 5% chance? The rate for experimental failure is 80%. It
may take more than one try.

- Meta-analysis is used as a process to replicate findings. Same method
used by medical field.

Why is parapsychology controversial?
- Lack of resources.
- Media has wrong beliefs.
- Some are afraid of psi being true.
- Lack of "solid, hard, huge" evidence.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foundations for Parapsychology

- Parapsychology Association
- Society for Scientific Exploration
- American Society for Psychical Research
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Degree work in Parapsychology
Rhine Research Center
California Institute of Integral Studies
American Society for Psychical Research
University of Amsterdam
University of Edinburgh
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------