parapszichológiának

Parapsychology is the study of alleged psychic phenomena and other paranormal claims, including purported telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, psychokinesis, near-death experiences, and reincarnation. It is considered a pseudoscience by the mainstream scientific community due to the lack of reproducible evidence and the reliance on anecdotal accounts.

The field emerged in the late 19th century with the growth of spiritualism and a desire to investigate reported supernatural events scientifically. Early parapsychological research often focused on mediums and their alleged abilities. Throughout the 20th century, researchers attempted to develop experimental methodologies to test psychic phenomena under controlled conditions. These experiments often involved tasks like identifying hidden cards (Zener cards), predicting random number sequences, or attempting to influence physical objects.

Despite decades of research, no conclusive evidence for the existence of psychic abilities has been established to the satisfaction of the broader scientific community. Critics often point to methodological flaws in experiments, such as inadequate blinding, statistical biases, or the possibility of fraud. Mainstream scientific disciplines generally do not recognize parapsychology as a legitimate field of study, and its findings are not typically published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. However, a small community of researchers continues to investigate these phenomena, often operating outside of traditional academic institutions.