Parapsychology Flashcards

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1
Q

Define “para”.

A

Can mean beside, beyond, resembling defective/abnormal, against.

Psychology of the weird and strange.

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2
Q

What is an extra sensory perception?

A

Sensing things with the mind e.g. telepathy and psychokinesis.

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3
Q

Is parapsychology a taboo?

A
  • Subjective.
  • Cultural belief system.
  • Personal.
  • Not amenable to scientific study.
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4
Q

How does James’ view parapsychology?

A

“Religious beliefs are satisfying”.

“Mystical experiences help understand people”.

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5
Q

Explain James’ subjectivity.

A
  • Philosophical pragmatism - the function of a thought is not to represent or mirror reality but instead is a tool to predict the future, take action and solve problems.
  • Truth is subjective.
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6
Q

Explain James’ functionalism.

A
  • Wholeness of an event.
  • Radical empiricism - completely objective truth is impossible to measure - the act of measurement will alter the “truth” it seems to uncover.
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7
Q

What chain did James come up with to explain thoughts?

A

Information - Consciousness - Action.

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8
Q

What was Watson’s view on Behaviourism?

A

Psychology should study observable behaviour only.

Direct link between events and behaviour e.g. Albert and the white rat.

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9
Q

What was Skinner’s view on behaviourism?

A

Free will is an illusion.

All behaviour is the result of the consequences of that behaviour (reinforcement).

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10
Q

How did Skinner explain thought through a chain?

A

Stimulus - Response.

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11
Q

What percentage of Americans are superstitious to some degree?

A

53% - Gallup Org 1996.

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12
Q

What are the impact of “lucky events” on people’s lives?

A

Lucky events = dramatic effect, improving their good fortune.

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13
Q

What is the explanation for “touch wood”, walking under a ladder and 13 being an unlucky number?

A

Touch wood - elicit help from the tree gods (Paganism).

13 - 13 people at the last supper.

Ladder - holy trinity shape made, walking through breaks that and results in ill fortune.

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14
Q

What did Levin find about superstition?

A

Black vs White Cats - no effect on luck for a coin toss.

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15
Q

What did Wiseman believe about luck?

A
  • That you must create your own luck.
  • Skilled at creating and noticing chance and opportunities.
  • Must listen to your intuition.
  • Self fulfilling prophecies - positivity,
  • Adopt resilient attitude can transform bad luck into good.
  • If you believe you’re unlucky you are more tense and unable to notice the unexpected.
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16
Q

Explain the subliminal priming experiment involving Prediction.

A
  • 2 identical pictures.
  • Negative picture subliminally on left or right.
  • Predictable that the negative picture was chosen less.
17
Q

What is memory?

A
  • Both constructive and reconstructive.
18
Q

How does the DRM test link to alien abduction?

A
  • The more errors found in the DMR test the more likely the subject is to have memories of alien abduction.
19
Q

Define precognition.

A
  • 9 classic experimental tasks.

- 1000 participants claimed to show future prediction.

20
Q

Explain horoscopes and the Barnum or Forer effect.

A
  • Tendancy to believe vague, generic statements about themselves.
  • E.g. Snyder and Shenel 1975 Horoscopes - all believed vague comments related to them.
21
Q

Define Clairvoyance.

A

Clear sight.

22
Q

Summarise parapsychology.

A
  1. Psychological mechanisms underly paranormal experiences.
  2. Interesting insight into how the brain processes information.
  3. Strange and weird receives attention whereas debunking these claims, does not.