Psychical research

Psychic, from the Greek psychikos meaning "mental,laboratory in an attempt to find a statistical validation of
of the soul" (in turn derived from psyche meaning "soul,extra-sensory perception.
mind"), is a term used to describe phenomena orIn 1957, the Parapsychological Association was formed
abilities that are said to originate from the brain butas the preeminent society for parapsychologists. In
which transcend its confines.1969, they became affiliated with the American
The term Psychic is commonly used in reference toAssociation for the Advancement of Science. That
the paranormal in general, but is more accuratelyaffiliation, along with a general openness to psychic
applied to phenomena which are said to involve Psi.and occult phenomena in the 1970s, led to a decade of
People who are said to possess psychic abilities areincreased parapsychological research. During this time,
referred to as "psychics".other notable organizations were also formed, including
The word itself was coined by French astronomerthe Academy of Parapsychology and Medicine (1970),
Camille Flammarion (1842 – 1925). Edwardthe Institute of Parascience (1971), the Academy of
William Cox has been credited with introducing it intoReligion and Psychical Research, the Institute of Noetic
the English language.Sciences (1973), and the International Kirlian Research
Psychical researchAssociation (1975). Each of these groups performed
The rise of modern inquiry into reports of psychicalexperiments on paranormal subjects to varying
phenomena coincided with the introduction of moderndegrees. Parapsychological work was also conducted
Spiritualism in 1848 and the movement's claims ofat the Stanford Research Institute during this time,
paranormal abilities. Shortly thereafter, the Society forresearch which continued till February 2007.
Psychical Research was founded in Britain (1882) andIn 1979, survey conducted to assess belief in one
the American Society for Psychical Research wasspecific field associated with psychics (ESP). It
founded in the United States (1885). Spiritualism was socovered 1,100 US college professors and indicated that
widespread and the reports of its effects somore than 50% of them believed that ESP is either an
numerous and impressive that it was inevitable thatestablished fact or a likely possibility". Belief was
scientists would be attracted to the allegedshown to be highest among those involved in arts and
phenomena. Early psychical researchers concernedhumanities, but lowest among psychologists.
themselves with studying mediums and spiritualistThe methodology and results of parapsychological
claims. In the early 1900s, a dissatisfaction with thework are often debated within the scientific
results of the research and political disagreementscommunity.However, a consensus within the field of
within psychic research organizations led to a newparapsychology is that certain types of psychic
approach and a new term for the study of psychicphenomena such as psychokinesis, telepathy, and
phenomena: parapsychology.precognition are well-established experimentally. Critics
Parapsychology began using the experimentalsuch as Ray Hyman argue that the evidence for psi
approach to psychic phenomena in the 1930s under(psychic phenomena) needs further replication and
the direction of J. B. Rhine (1895 – 1980).[4]theoretical work before it is accepted. However, the
Rhine popularized the now famous methodology ofexistence of psychics and the validity of
using card-guessing and dice-rolling experiments in theparapsychological experiments is disputed by skeptics