Parapsychology Principles:
Andrew Nichols, Ph.D.
(1) Parapsychology is defined as the
interdisciplinary study of a class of human experiences which are
typically described by the percipient as
Aparanormal,@
Asupernatural,@
Amystical,@
etc. Paranormal experiences are defined as those experiences which
seem to violate known scientific laws (whether or not they do in
fact violate such laws). Examples of paranormal experiences include
Extra-sensory perception (ESP), Psychokinesis (PK), and phenomena
suggestive of survival of human consciousness after death, e.g.
apparitions, near-death experiences, etc. Parapsychology is also
concerned with all anomalous aspects of human consciousness,
including altered states of consciousness, dreams, hypnosis and
trance, etc.
(2) Parapsychology asserts that such
experiences are not, in and of themselves, indicative of
psychopathology. It is recognized that paranormal experiences may be
concomitants of certain psychopathological states, or that certain
paranormal experiences may trigger psychopathological
(dysfunctional) responses in some percipients. Parapsychology
rejects psychiatric diagnostic categories which are based solely
upon subjective paranormal experiences (e.g.
Ahearing
voices@).
(3) Parapsychology asserts that paranormal-type
experiences are often a source of personal transformation or healing
to the individual, and as such, are potentially valuable aspects of
the human experience. These experiences are potentially
transformative and beneficial whether or not they correspond to
events in the realm of mundane sensory experience. Parapsychologists
have a duty to assist their clients in the analysis and integration
of paranormal experiences, as an adjunct to personal growth and
individuation.
(4) Parapsychology asserts that consciousness
itself is fundamentally
Aparanormal@
(i.e. unexplainable by contemporary scientific models), and further
asserts that within each individual is a (usually unconscious)
stratum or layer of the psyche which is transpersonal (extends
beyond the self), non-local, and non-temporal (not bound by
conventional concepts of space and time). This transpersonal
consciousness incorporates other individuals, living and deceased,
as well as objects and/or locations which are meaningful to the
individual. This transpersonal stratum of consciousness is the
source of genuine paranormal experiences, whether experienced
consciously or subliminally.
(5) Parapsychology asserts that the prudent use
of certain techniques (e.g. trance induction, automatisms) may
facilitate access to the transpersonal unconscious, and may provide
beneficial opportunities for self-actualization and personal
transformation for the individual. Such techniques do, however, have
a potential for misuse, and should be supervised by an experienced
facilitator trained in parapsychology.
(6) Parapsychology assumes no stance on the
question of physical measurement or recording of paranormal
phenomena. There is no conclusive evidence that physical measures or
recording techniques (photography, audio-recording, etc.) are
capable of detecting paranormal energies or entities. Therefore, the
parapsychologist must view such purported evidence with an attitude
of open-minded skepticism, recognizing that further research or
developments in scientific methodology may ultimately provide
legitimate physical evidence for the paranormal.
Parapsychology asserts that the meaning or
value of paranormal experiences are not dependent upon the
acquisition of genuine
Aspirit
photographs,@
AEVP
recordings,@
or other physical evidence. This is true of all subjective human
experiences studied by social scientists. Recognizing that some
hoaxes do occur, humanistic parapsychologists believe that most
reported paranormal phenomena are genuine human experiences, and
thus are inherently meaningful and valuable.
(7) Parapsychology is a scientific approach
insofar as it utilizes the methodology of the social sciences
(psychology, sociology, anthropology) to acquire and analyze data on
paranormal experiences. However, humanistic parapsychology also
incorporates psychological/spiritual development, and as such may be
regarded as an interdisciplinary field which incorporates
scientific, mystical/intuitive, and philosophical approaches.
(8) The task of parapsychology is threefold.
First, since paranormal experiences are usually designated as such
by the percipient due to a perceived synchronicity between internal,
subjective experiences and external, objective events (e.g. a dream
that seems to come true), the parapsychologist seeks to determine
whether this assertion is factual, or if the experience is
subjective in nature. Next, the parapsychologist analyzes the
gathered material, seeking meaningful patterns relating the event to
the percipient=s
personal history, mythological concepts, etc. Finally, the
parapsychologist offers counseling and advice to the percipient,
with the goal of providing an explanation for the paranormal
experience(s), and suggestions for integrating, amplifying, or
eliminating such experiences, depending upon the individual needs
and wishes of the client, and the assessment of the
parapsychologist.
(9) Parapsychological Counseling is
client-centered and non-directive, i.e., paranormal experiences
should be studied within the cultural and social context in which
they occur. Insofar as is possible, the parapsychologist should work
within the belief system of the individual percipients toward an
understanding of the reported experiences. The task of the
parapsychologist is to provide beneficial counseling and advice to
the client, rather than to
Adebunk@
the experience, or indoctrinate the client into a particular belief
system or dogmatic interpretation of the reported experience.
Occasionally it is necessary to attempt to re-frame the belief
system of the percipient to alleviate fear (e.g. poltergeist cases),
protect the client from exploitation (e.g. by fraudulent psychics)
or if the physical or psychological health of the individual is
believed to be in jeopardy.
(10) Parapsychology supports no specific
religious interpretation of paranormal experiences, and makes no
assertions with regard to the question of conscious survival after
death, nor does it assert the literal existence of an objective
Aspirit
world= or of
non-corporeal entities, extra-terrestrial beings, etc.
Parapsychology does assert that these concepts are scientifically
possible, that these questions are of fundamental importance to the
human species, and therefore warrant rigorous scientific research.
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