The best question ever!

[ghosthunterbebunker]

People drive to the psychic's looking for answers! Could the ghost be their unanswered needs
with the loss of someone. Could we explain this wanting information has a want and need to be with someone they miss. Could the ghost be the mind allowing a good memory to seem real.

[tkingdoll]

Actually, that's quite an interesting way of putting it.

You are saying that someone has such emotions tied up with the memory of a dead loved one, that their mind creates a realistic projection of that person, which seems real to them.

OK, let's go with that theory for a moment. My question would then be: are most 'ghost' sightings of loved-ones, or are they of strangers? For example a traditional haunted house where the ghost is allegedly that of someone who died hundreds of years ago.

[Dr B]

In relation to the first OP - there is about 130 years of research on this. Bereavement hallucinations are similar in some ways and distinct in others to other haunt-reports. One peculiar thing about them is they tend to occur around 3 - 5 days since the death of the loved one and appear to be part of the grieving process.

I think, most people haunt themselves - but this can become reconfigured through memory and emotion when an attachment to the sense of self is lost. Indeed, this is well known in pathology.

Seems like you have a lot of reading to do.....enjoy

[Dr B]

Teek

My understanding is they are distinct classes of experience. People report both the scenarios you mention.

For obvious reasons, experiencing a loved one can be more profound

[ghosthunterbebunker]

Actually, that's quite an interesting way of putting it.

You are saying that someone has such emotions tied up with the memory of a dead loved one, that their mind creates a realistic projection of that person, which seems real to them.

OK, let's go with that theory for a moment. My question would then be: are most 'ghost' sightings of loved-ones, or are they of strangers? For example a traditional haunted house where the ghost is allegedly that of someone who died hundreds of years ago.

There are alot of people that believe in ghost's, and lets say you have some wierd noises that are explainable.
I am just wondering what a person that believes in a ghost will be thinking after hearing noises a few times.
Is it what was that weird noise? or I believe this house has a ghost?

[tkingdoll]

I suspect that if you already believe in ghosts, you are more likely to attribute a weird noise to one than if you previously held no opinion on the existence of ghosts (note: that's a suspicion on my part, not a fact). But believing in the existence of ghosts does not automatically mean you would attribute a weird noise to a ghost. Plenty of people believe in ghosts but apply Occam's Razor when it comes to bumps and bangs.

And of course, if you believe ghosts do not exist, you are very unlikely to attribute a weird noise to one :D

In fact, I'd almost say it's a certainty that someone who does not believe in ghosts will not have 'ghost' on their list of 'possible causes of noise'...

[ghosthunterbebunker]

I suspect that if you already believe in ghosts, you are more likely to attribute a weird noise to one than if you previously held no opinion on the existence of ghosts (note: that's a suspicion on my part, not a fact). But believing in the existence of ghosts does not automatically mean you would attribute a weird noise to a ghost. Plenty of people believe in ghosts but apply Occam's Razor when it comes to bumps and bangs.

And of course, if you believe ghosts do not exist, you are very unlikely to attribute a weird noise to one :D

In fact, I'd almost say it's a certainty that someone who does not believe in ghosts will not have 'ghost' on their list of 'possible causes of noise'...

Sure but the chances increase!

[Dr B]

The chances of what?

[Admin]

In fact, I'd almost say it's a certainty that someone who does not believe in ghosts will not have 'ghost' on their list of 'possible causes of noise'...

D'ya wanna bet? :D

I was getting dressed one morning and I heard a whooshing sound coming from behind me. I knew there was no-one else in the house and so in the half second that the experience lasted I thought that 'something' was present.

It was quite frightening and confusing - just an instinctive reaction before I had time to think.

It turned out to be the windowcleaner closing the adjacent bedroom window from the outside!

But, for a split second...... I was in Woo land. :o

[Dr B]

Is it still two for the price of one in Woo Land?

As for hearing a whoosing sound behind you - I was already thinking of something to do with last night's curry

On a more serious note - lots of research suggestions that woo's dont search for the alternative hypothesis that much. They have an odd relationship with the notion of ambiguity (according to some).

[tkingdoll]

John, it's what happened after that's important though. You didn't continue to assume it was a ghost, and you didn't start parading your experience as proof of the existence of ghosts in general and a specific ghost in your house. I would say that's the major difference.

And of course, some people want there to be ghosts, and want to experience one. That's quite a powerful motivator.

[ghosthunterbebunker]

John, it's what happened after that's important though. You didn't continue to assume it was a ghost, and you didn't start parading your experience as proof of the existence of ghosts in general and a specific ghost in your house. I would say that's the major difference.

And of course, some people want there to be ghosts, and want to experience one. That's quite a powerful motivator.

And thats the problem with this haunted scenerios is the belief. And bring in a ghost hunter group claiming to be skeptical from the start...not a chance. For the most part a large number of these groups really believe that dust
and moisture photo'd with a digital is proof of a ghost.

[Admin]

Yes, if it had been a less obvious conclusion and I had a pre-existing belief in ghosts then I probably would have interpreted the event as a 'visitation' of some kind.

_________________________________________________

There is a major difference in assumption between the 2 groups of investigators in this field:

1) Believers who assume that the paranormal exists and they are searching for evidence to confirm this; and

2) Non-believers (including most skeptics) who assume that these experiences are real but that we need proof that they don't have normal (but perhaps complex) explanations (which need to be ruled out) before invoking paranormal hypotheses.

I'm in category 2.

[ghosthunterbebunker]

Yes, if it had been a less obvious conclusion and I had a pre-existing belief in ghosts then I probably would have interpreted the event as a 'visitation' of some kind.

_________________________________________________

There is a major difference in assumption between the 2 groups of investigators in this field:

1) Believers who assume that the paranormal exists and they are searching for evidence to confirm this; and

2) Non-believers (including most skeptics) who assume that these experiences are real but that we need proof that they don't have normal (but perhaps complex) explanations (which need to be ruled out) before invoking paranormal hypotheses.

I'm in category 2.

Sure but I was speaking of the believers! But on the other hand I don't know to many skeptics ghost hunting.
Most ghost hunter's(or the only ones I have ever seen) definetly believe.

[Dr B]

Here in the UK - many skeptics do field research including myself and;

Richard Wiseman
Chris French
Paul Stevens
Simon Sherwood

In the USA - lots as well

Joe Nickell
James Houran
Rense Lange
Michaleen Maher
Gertrude Schmeidler did a great deal
Michael Roll

In Canada

Michael Persinger
Stan Koren


and I am sure there are many more I have forgotten. I think we have a case of selective evidence here. There is a wealth of good field-based stuff going on - it may not always get the TV coverage it deserves.....but if you based your world view on TV (and I know many do) - then you are likely to be deluded on most things. If you expose yourself to the correct material - you will see things are looking good