Hauntings and poltergeists : multidisciplinary perspectives / edited by James Houran and Rense Lange ; foreword by John Beloff ; afterword by Gertrude R. Schmeidler.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Houran, James, 1969-

Lange, Rense, 1950-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Poltergeists.

Physical Description:

vi, 330 pages : illustrations ; 19 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland, [2001]

Summary:

Few people can claim the distinction of experiencing first-hand such occurrences as hauntings and the presence of poltergeists, but countless numbers of people are fascinated by these unexplainable events. Written by the worlds most knowledgeable authorities in this field, the essays in this work promote a better understanding of the manifestations of and various reasons for hauntings and poltergeist phenomena. The experts come from such backgrounds as anthropology, history, philosophy, psychiatry, and sociology, and provide sober yet highly readable in-depth discussions of numerous ideas and rationalizations for hauntings and poltergeists, from a critical and scientific perspective. Divided into three major sections--sociocultural, physical and physiological, and psychological perspectives--this work provides an overview of each perspective and also addresses the general psychology of belief in the parano

Contents:

I Sociocultural Perspectives 7

1. Historical Introduction: The Example of Early Modern and Nineteenth-Century England / Ronald C. Finucane 9

2. An Experience-Centered Approach to Hauntings / David J. Hufford 18

3. The Ghost Experience in a Wider Context / Hilary Evans 41

4. The Sociological Investigation of Haunting Cases / James McClenon 62

5. A House That Tries to Be Haunted: Ghostly Narratives in Popular Film and Television / Emily D. Edwards 82

II Physical and Physiological Perspectives 121

6. Investigations of Poltergeists and Haunts: A Review and Interpretation / William G. Roll, Michael A. Persinger 123

7. Seeking Spirits in the Laboratory / Dean I. Radin 164

8. Predicting the Characteristics of Haunt Phenomena from Geomagnetic Factors and Brain Sensitivity: Evidence from Field and Experimental Studies / Michael A. Persinger, Stanley A. Koren 179

9. From Haunted Brain to Haunted Science: A Cognitive Neuroscience View of Paranormal and Pseudoscientific Thought / Peter Brugger 195

10. Phantoms, Frauds, or Fantasies? / Joe Nickell 214

III Psychological Perspectives 225

11. A New Look at Haunting and Poltergeist Phenomena: Analyzing Experiences from a Semiotic Perspective / Fatima Regina Machado 227

12. Apparitions and Kindred Phenomena: Their Relevance to the Psychology of Paranormal Belief and Experience / Tony R. Lawrence 248

13. Relation of Hypnosis-Specific Attitudes and Behaviors to Paranormal Beliefs and Experiences: A Technical Review / V.K. Kumar, Ronald J. Pekala 260

14. Ambiguous Stimuli Brought to Life: The Psychological Dynamics of Hauntings and Poltergeists / Rense Lange, James Houran 280.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 310-328) and index.

ISBN:

0786409843

OCLC:

46683537