Noun

Singular parapsychology

Plural countable and uncountable; plural parapsychologies

parapsychology (countable and uncountable; plural parapsychologies)

1. The study of that which cannot yet be explained; psychic or occult phenomena, such as telepathy and ghosts.

Related terms

• metaphysics
• paranormal

Parapsychology is a discipline that seeks to investigate the existence and causes of psychic abilities and life after death using the scientific method. Parapsychological experiments have included the use of random number generators to test for evidence of precognition and psychokinesis with both human and animal subjects and Ganzfeld experiments to test for extrasensory perception.

While the results of such experiments are regarded by some parapsychologists as having demonstrated the existence of some forms of psychic abilities, the consensus of the scientific community is that psychic abilities have not been demonstrated to exist. Critics argue that methodological flaws may explain any apparent experimental successes. The status of parapsychology as a science has also been disputed. Many scientists regard the discipline as pseudoscience because parapsychologists continue investigation despite not having demonstrated conclusive evidence of psychic abilities in more than a century of research.

Laboratory and field research is conducted through private institutions and a small number of universities worldwide. Privately-funded units at universities in the United Kingdom are among the most active today. In the US, interest in research peaked in the 1970s and university-based research is now slight, although private institutions still receive considerable funding from donations. While parapsychological research has occasionally appeared in mainstream academic journals, most of the recent research is published in a small number of niche journals.