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|See_Also = [[Ganzfeld experiment]],<br>[[Telepathy]],<br>[[Anomalous cognition]],<br>[[ESP]]
|See_Also = [[Ganzfeld experiment]],<br>[[Telepathy]],<br>[[Anomalous cognition]],<br>[[ESP]]
}}'''Psychic''' is a term relating to or denoting [[paranormal]] [[Extra-sensory perception|extra-sensory abilities]] or phenomena that are apparently inexplicable by known [[Physical law|natural laws]], since they transcend the confines of our current understanding of what a human being is capable of. People who are thought to have these abilities or to be able to produce these phenomena are often called "psychics". The term comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''psychikos'', meaning "of the soul; mental," which is in turn derived from the Greek word ''psyche'' (soul/mind).<ref> ''The Greeks and the Irrational'' by E.R. Dodds, University of California Press, 1951</ref> It was first used by French astronomer [[Camille Flammarion]] (1842 – 1925).<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/psychic, Answers.com, Retrieved January 31, 2007</ref><ref>http://parapsych.org/glossary_l_r.html#p Parapsychological Association website, Glossary of Key Words Frequently Used in Parapsychology, Retrieved February 10, 2007</ref><ref>Psychological Bulletin 1994, Vol. 115, No. 1, 4-18. ''Does Psi Exist? Replicable Evidence for an Anomalous Process of Information Transfer'' By Daryl J. Bem and Charles Honorton</ref><ref name="EncyOccult" />
}}A '''psychic''' is a person apparently sensitive to nonphysical forces. The term denotes apparently [[paranormal]] [[Extra-sensory perception|extra-sensory abilities]] or phenomena that may or may not exist. They are said to be inexplicable by known [[Physical law|natural laws]], transcending the confines of our current understanding of what a human being is capable of. People who are thought to have these abilities or to be able to produce these phenomena are often called "psychics". The term comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''psychikos'', meaning "of the soul; mental," which is in turn derived from the Greek word ''psyche'' (soul/mind).<ref> ''The Greeks and the Irrational'' by E.R. Dodds, University of California Press, 1951</ref> It was first used by French astronomer [[Camille Flammarion]] (1842 – 1925).<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/psychic, Answers.com, Retrieved January 31, 2007</ref><ref>http://parapsych.org/glossary_l_r.html#p Parapsychological Association website, Glossary of Key Words Frequently Used in Parapsychology, Retrieved February 10, 2007</ref><ref>Psychological Bulletin 1994, Vol. 115, No. 1, 4-18. ''Does Psi Exist? Replicable Evidence for an Anomalous Process of Information Transfer'' By Daryl J. Bem and Charles Honorton</ref><ref name="EncyOccult" />


The existence of real psychic abilities is very controversial, and skeptics say that the apparent instances of psychic phenomena, and the studies conducted by [[parapsychologists]] are better explained by self-delusion, fraud, or error.
The existence of real psychic abilities is very controversial, and skeptics say that the apparent instances of psychic phenomena, and the studies conducted by [[parapsychologists]] are better explained by self-delusion, fraud, or error.

Revision as of 07:20, 5 August 2007

Template:Infobox ParanormaltermsA psychic is a person apparently sensitive to nonphysical forces. The term denotes apparently paranormal extra-sensory abilities or phenomena that may or may not exist. They are said to be inexplicable by known natural laws, transcending the confines of our current understanding of what a human being is capable of. People who are thought to have these abilities or to be able to produce these phenomena are often called "psychics". The term comes from the Greek word psychikos, meaning "of the soul; mental," which is in turn derived from the Greek word psyche (soul/mind).[1] It was first used by French astronomer Camille Flammarion (1842 – 1925).[2][3][4][5]

The existence of real psychic abilities is very controversial, and skeptics say that the apparent instances of psychic phenomena, and the studies conducted by parapsychologists are better explained by self-delusion, fraud, or error.

Psychical research

Main article: Parapsychology

The rise of modern inquiry into reports of psychical phenomena coincided with the introduction of modern Spiritualism in 1848 and the movement's claims of paranormal abilities. Shortly thereafter, the Society for Psychical Research was founded in Britain (1882) and the American Society for Psychical Research was founded in the United States (1885). Spiritualism was so widespread and the reports of its effects so numerous and impressive that it was inevitable that scientists would be attracted to the alleged phenomena. Early psychical researchers concerned themselves with studying mediums and spiritualist claims. In the early 1900s, a dissatisfaction with the results of the research and political disagreements within psychic research organizations led to a new approach and a new term for the study of psychic phenomena: parapsychology.[5]

Parapsychology began using the experimental approach to psychic phenomena in the 1930s under the direction of J. B. Rhine (1895 – 1980).[5] Rhine popularized the now famous methodology of using card-guessing and dice-rolling experiments in the laboratory in an attempt to find a statistical validation of extra-sensory perception.[5]

In 1957, the Parapsychological Association was formed as the preeminent society for parapsychologists. In 1969, they became affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. That affiliation, along with a general openness to psychic and occult phenomena in the 1970s, led to a decade of increased parapsychological research.[5] During this time, other notable organizations were also formed, including the Academy of Parapsychology and Medicine (1970), the Institute of Parascience (1971), the Academy of Religion and Psychical Research, the Institute of Noetic Sciences (1973), and the International Kirlian Research Association (1975). Each of these groups performed experiments on paranormal subjects to varying degrees. Parapsychological work was also conducted at the Stanford Research Institute during this time, research which continued till February 2007. [6][5]

In 1979, survey conducted to assess belief in one specific field associated with psychics (ESP). It covered 1,100 US college professors and indicated that more than 50% of them believed that ESP is either an established fact or a likely possibility". Belief was shown to be highest among those involved in arts and humanities, but lowest among psychologists. [7]

Field Belief
Natural sciences 55%
Social Sciences (exc psychology) 66%
Arts, Humanities, Education 77%
Psychology 35%

[7]

The methodology and results of parapsychological work are often debated within the scientific community. [citation needed] However, a consensus within the field of parapsychology is that certain types of psychic phenomena such as psychokinesis, telepathy, and precognition are well-established experimentally.[8][9][10][11][12] Critics such as Ray Hyman argue that the evidence for psi (psychic phenomena) needs further replication and theoretical work before it is accepted.[13]

Skepticism

The existence of psychic abilities and the validity of parapsychological experiments is disputed by skeptics, often through societies such as the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.[14][15][16][17] Skeptics say that the evidence presented for psychic phenomena is not sufficiently verified for scientific acceptance. Many parapsychologists who study psychic phenomena agree that many of the instances of more popular psychic phenomena such as mediumism and other psychic feats, can be attributed to non-paranormal techniques such as cold reading and hot reading, or even self- delusion. [18][19] Magicians such as Ian Rowland and Derren Brown have demonstrated techniques and results similar to those of popular psychics, but they proffer psychological explanations instead of paranormal ones.[20] They have identified, described, and developed complex psychological techniques of cold reading and hot reading.

James Randi

Former stage magician and noted debunker James Randi has offered a $1 million prize to anyone who can actively demonstrate "any psychic, supernatural or paranormal ability". [21] In order to claim the prize, a challenger must first complete a preliminary evaluation - demonstrate a psychic ability in uncontrolled circumstances - and must then demonstrate the same ability under agreed, controlled circumstances. No challenger has yet passed the preliminary evaluation. [21]

Correspondence and claims from 150 applicants are listed on the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) website. [22]

Popular culture

Belief in psychic abilities is common. For example, one 2006 poll by researchers Bryan Farha of Oklahoma City University and Gary Steward of University of Central Oklahoma, showed that college seniors and graduate students have more paranormal beliefs than college freshmen. According to the Steiger scientific report, higher education tends to support belief in the paranormal. [23]

Some people also believe that psychic abilities can be activated or enhanced through the study and practice of various disciplines and techniques such as meditation, with a number of books and websites being dedicated to instruction in these methods (see Psionics article for details). Another popular belief is that psychic ability can be inherited and is something that can be passed down from one generation to the next. [24]

There are also a number of individuals who have been proclaimed themselves to be psychics and/or mediums. Some of them make a living as professional fortune tellers. Some either host their own TV programs, such as John Edward or are featured on the shows of others, such as Sylvia Browne (see Paranormal television). Some have made predictions of future events, with varying degrees of accuracy, or have published books of predictions or metaphysical ideas based on psychic themes.

Famous psychics

Further information: [[:List of parapsychologists#Other claimed psychics|List of parapsychologists § Other claimed psychics]]

Fiction

Psychic characters are common in fiction as well. For example, The Dead Zone by Stephen King (and the film and TV series based on it) are about a psychic named Johnny Smith whose abilities are awakened after a car accident. Psychic abilities are also used by the fictional character Raven Baxter in the television show That's So Raven.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ The Greeks and the Irrational by E.R. Dodds, University of California Press, 1951
  2. ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/psychic, Answers.com, Retrieved January 31, 2007
  3. ^ http://parapsych.org/glossary_l_r.html#p Parapsychological Association website, Glossary of Key Words Frequently Used in Parapsychology, Retrieved February 10, 2007
  4. ^ Psychological Bulletin 1994, Vol. 115, No. 1, 4-18. Does Psi Exist? Replicable Evidence for an Anomalous Process of Information Transfer By Daryl J. Bem and Charles Honorton
  5. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference EncyOccult was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (2007-02-10) "Princeton's PEAR laboratory to close", (2007-03-06)
  7. ^ a b Wagner, M.W. Monnet, M., (1979) "Attitudes of college professors toward extra-sensory perception", Zetetic Scholar, 5, 7-17.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference honorton1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ http://www.boundaryinstitute.org/articles/tri2.pdf Evidence for a retrocausal effect in the human nervous system Dean Radin & Edwin May Boundary Institute, Retrieved Dec 15, 2006
  10. ^ http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/articles/pdf/17.2_mousseau.pdf Parapsychology: Science or Pseudo-Science? By MARIE-CATHERINE MOUSSEAU in the Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 271-282, 2003, Retrieved February 19, 2005
  11. ^ http://www.psy.gu.se/EJP/EJP1984Bauer.pdf Criticism and Controversy in Parapsychology - An Overview By Eberhard Bauer, Department of Psychology, University of Freiburg, in the European Journal of Parapsychology, 1984, 5, 141-166, Retrieved February 09, 2007
  12. ^ Radin, Dean I. (1997). The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena. HarperSanFrancisco. ISBN 0-06-251502-0.
  13. ^ http://www.mceagle.com/remote-viewing/refs/science/air/hyman.html The Journal of Parapsychology, December, 1995, Evaluation of Program on Anomalous Mental Phenomena By Ray Hyman Retrieved January 5, 2007
  14. ^ Jeffers, Stanley (2006-05-01). "The PEAR Proposition: Fact or Fallacy?". Skeptical Inquirer. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Retrieved 2007-04-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ Radford, Benjamin. "CSI: Turning from Science to Psychics". Skeptical Inquirer. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Retrieved 2007-04-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ Shermer, Michael. "Skeptic Psychic Drift: Why most scientists do not believe in ESP and Psi phenomena". Skepticism (website). Self Published. Retrieved 2007-04-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  17. ^ Nickell, Joe. "Psychic Sleuthing: The Myth-making Process". Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Retrieved 2007-04-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  18. ^ EBauer, berhard (1984) "Criticism and Controversy in Parapsychology - An Overview", Department of Psychology, University of Freiburg, European Journal of Parapsychology, 5, 141-166 (2007-02-09)
  19. ^ >O',Keeffe, Ciarán and Wiseman Richard (2005) "Testing alleged mediumship: Methods and results", British Journal of Psychology, 96, 165–17
  20. ^ Rowland, Ian (2002) "The Full Facts Book of Cold Reading", Self-Published, ASIN B000NDYWDA
  21. ^ a b One million dollar paranormal challenge, James Randi Educational Foundation (2007-04-25)
  22. ^ Challenge Applications, JREF (2007-04-25)
  23. ^ Steiger, B: "Smart People See Ghosts. Higher education supports belief in the paranormal" Fate Magazine, April 2006 Volume 59, Number 4, Issue 672
  24. ^ Hargreaves, Julie: Psychics - myths & misconceptions, Nov 2002, Retrieved April 25, 2007. http://www.hark.net.au/articles/psychics_info.htm

External links


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