Ghost hunting

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Ghost hunting

A ghost hunt is the investigation of a location for the purpose of detecting paranormal activity .

Typically, small groups of ghost hunters try to collect evidence of paranormal activity. Ghost hunters collect data using scientific methods by using various pieces of equipment such as video cameras, cameras, audio recorders and various measuring devices such as magnetometers , Geiger counters and thermometers .

The term paranormal investigation was coined in 1977 by Walter von Lucadou and Klaus Kornwachs in their article Contribution to the system-theoretical investigation of paranormal phenomena .

Critics of ghost hunting often criticize the fact that hardly scientifically verifiable and reproducible evidence of the existence of ghosts is being collected, although this topic has preoccupied mankind for centuries.

Origin and history

The first investigation by Pliny the Younger (100 AD) that could be described as a paranormal investigation or ghost hunt is recorded. He describes the investigation of a haunted house in ancient Athens by the philosopher Athenodoros Kananites .

In 1862 the Ghost Club was founded in London , which is considered to be the first institution to investigate paranormal phenomena. Famous members included Charles Dickens , Sir William Crookes , Sir William F. Barrett, and Harry Price .

Between 1880 and 1890, the philosopher and founder of the American Psychological Association, William James, suggested using scientific methods to research paranormal questions. He found allies in England such as Alfred Russel Wallace , the philosopher Henry Sidgwick and Edmund Gurney . Together they founded the Society for Psychical Research to find evidence of apparitions, ghosts, and similar phenomena. Members of the Society collected case studies, observed seances, designed tests to verify fortune tellers, and introduced the Census of Hallucinations , a statistic that counted the number of ghostly apparitions a person had on the day of their death.

Similar research was carried out by Harry Price with the London Laboratory of Psychical Research from 1920, which was continued in 1950 and 1960 by the Americans Hans Holzer and Ed and Lorraine Warren .

In Germany, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe , among others, tried to convince himself of the existence of ghosts and spooks , and he processed his experiences in Faust (4160f.) On Walpurgis Night: “The devil's pack , it doesn't ask for any rule. We're so clever, and yet Tegel is haunted . "

Fanny Moser's extensive case collection , which she left with the Institute for Frontier Areas in Psychology and Mental Hygiene (IGPP) in Freiburg under Hans Bender , aroused scientific interest .

The ghost hunt in a dental practice made nationwide headlines in 1983. The Chopper Ghost was searched for for several months .

The German parapsychologist Walter von Lucadou is currently working as a ghost hunter.

Current development

With the internet and films like The Haunted House and reality TV shows like Ghost Hunters and Most Haunted, there is currently a boom in ghost hunting. Teams of enthusiasts and hobby researchers operate around the world who pursue ghost rumors in their free time and offer their services to those affected.

It is scientifically assumed that the reported haunted phenomena can be explained by natural causes.

Devices and Methods

Ghost hunters use various techniques and tools to investigate alleged paranormal activity. While there is no general acceptance of the following methods among ghost hunters, some of them are widely used by ghost hunting groups.

  • Photo and video : Use of digital cameras , night vision devices , infrared cameras and even single-use cameras to detect any picture and / or sound interference.
  • EMF measuring device : For detecting possibly inexplicable fluctuations in electromagnetic fields .
  • Tablet PC : For recording data, audio, video and even environmental fluctuations such as electromagnetic fields.
  • Ambient temperature measurement : With thermographic cameras , thermal imaging cameras , infrared thermometers and other infrared temperature sensors. All of these methods only measure surface temperature and not ambient temperature.
  • Digital and analog audio recording: capturing inexplicable noises and electronic voice phenomena (EVPs) that can be interpreted as disembodied voices .
  • Compass : Some ghost hunters use a compass to determine the location of paranormal spots, similar to EMFs.
  • Geiger counter : For measuring radiation fluctuations.
  • Infrared and / or ultrasonic motion sensors: Detecting possible abnormal movement in a specific area or to support a controlled environment in which human movement is detected.
  • Air quality monitoring equipment : assessing the concentrations of gases such as carbon monoxide that are believed to contribute to reports of paranormal activity.
  • Infrasound monitoring equipment: For assessing the noise level.
  • Dowsing rods : Mostly made of brass and bent into an L-shape.
  • Fortune tellers, mediums or clairvoyants: trance mediums or "sensitive" persons who are believed to have the ability to identify with and contact spiritual beings .
  • Demonologists, exorcists, and clergy: those who say prayers , give blessings , or perform rituals to purify alleged spirits, demons, poltergeists, or "negative energies".
  • Lights out: According to the ghost hunting enthusiasts' websites, many ghost hunters prefer to conduct their investigations during the "peak" hours of the evening (midnight to 4 am).
  • Ghostbox : An electronic device that some ghost hunters claim can communicate with ghosts.
  • Interviews: collecting testimony and reports on alleged car chases.
  • Historical research: researching the history of the place studied.
  • A ouija board for communicating with ghosts.
  • According to one psychic medium, the suggestion is that "dogs growling and barking in certain places on a property" and cats moving or looking into a certain area as if someone were present indicate a haunt.

criticism

Since a great many enthusiasts and self-proclaimed media appear as ghost hunters who publish their research results on relevant websites, critics complain that many of the data cited as evidence are invalid due to improper or inappropriate use of the measuring devices and incorrect interpretation of the results. It is also to be feared that members of ghost hunter groups will present themselves as more qualified than they are.

Critics such as John Potts recommend in the professional world not to take the results of the amateur groups seriously, since they try to provide evidence on the basis of unproven assumptions, which has no scientific basis.

literature

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  1. ↑ K. Kornwachs, W. v. Lucadou: Contribution to the system-theoretical investigation of paranormal phenomena. In: Journal for Parapsychology and Frontier Areas of Psychology. Volume 19, No. 4, 1977, Journal for Parapsychology and Frontier Areas of Psychology Table of Contents 1970 - 1979 ( Memento from August 31, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) In: igpp.de
  2. ↑ Joe Nickell: Ghost Hunters - CSI. In: csicop.org. Retrieved January 3, 2015 .
  3. ↑ Deborah Blum: Ghost Hunters. William James and the Hunt for Evidence of Life after Death. Goldmann, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-442-33773-6 , p. 308ff.
  4. ↑ District Office Reinickendorf: The Tegel district. The Tegel district ( Memento from September 17, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) In: reinickendorf.de
  5. ↑ Fanny Moser: The great book of occultism. Walter, 1974, ISBN 978-3-530-57900-0 , limited preview in Google Book Search
  6. ↑ Fanny Moser: Spuk: A riddle of humanity. Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag, 1980, ISBN 978-3-596-26714-9 , limited preview in the Google book search
  7. ↑ 30 years of Geist "Chopper" - a ghost in the dental practice. In: sueddeutsche.de . March 4, 2012, accessed January 3, 2015 .
  8. ↑ Gerhard Mayer: The ghost hunters are coming. Phenomenology of the Ghost Hunting Groups. In: Journal of Anomalies. 10 (1 + 2), 2010, pp. 17-48.
  9. ↑ Reality Check: Ghost Hunters and 'Ghost Detectors' Reality Check: Ghost Hunters and 'Ghost Detectors' ( Memento from December 6, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) In: csicop.org
  10. ^ Southwest Ghost Hunter's Association (SGHA): Instant Credentials? Articles ~ Ghost hunting and beyond ~ Instant Credentials? ( Memento from September 11, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )
  11. ↑ James Houran: From Shaman to Scientist. Scarecrow Press, 2004, ISBN 978-0-8108-5054-5 , p. 211. Restricted preview in Google Book Search