What is the Paranormal ??

Look up the word Paranormal in a dictionary and you will get

IDefinition of paranormal

par`a`nor´mal Pronunciation: păr`å`nôr´mal

adj. 1. Of or pertaining to parapsychology; pertaining to forces or mental processes, such as extrasensory perception or psychokinesis, outside the possibilities defined by natural or scientific laws; as, paranormal phenomena.

A closer look reveals the Paranormal is of course something that does not occur as an everyday sitiation.. but then we knew that already!!


PARAPSYCHOLOGY: A HISTORY OF RESEARCH.

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The term `parapsychology' was introduced in the 1930s to refer to the scientific investigation of *paranormal phenomena-in particular the allegedly extra-sensory powers of the mind (ESP) Previously this interesting but highly questionable area of science had generally been described as 'psychical research'.

People have always been fascinated by the possibility that his mind may be capable of exercising unusual powers not apparently linked to the physical senses-telepathy, the capacity to see the future, etc.-and it has to be admitted that mythology, religion, and much of art and literature are on his side in this respect. Furthermore there exists a great body of anecdotal evidence and personal testimony to the effect that such powers exist-almost everyone has had an experience which could be interpreted as having been telepathic, and most people have listened to friends or relations giving superficially convincing accounts of precognitive dreams they have had or of paranormal occurrences that have changed their lives.

The history of psychical research or parapsychology in fact reflects the attempts of three or four generations of scientists to convert this intriguing anecdotal material into something more tangible--specifically to trap it in the laboratory. Throughout the course of this history, there has been a continuing shift of emphasis in the focus of research, but for the sake of simplicity it can be conveniently divided into three overlapping phases or periods: spiritualistic research, psychical research, and modern parapsychology


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