Paranormal Research Training
Unexplained phenomena that used to be dismissed as coincidence is now being documented as what many believe is proof of life after death, ghosts and demons. Paranormal research is growing in popularity but hasn't garnered the respect of traditional science just yet, so obtaining training is not as simple as going to your local community college.
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The Paranormal
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According to Princeton University's online dictionary, Wordnetweb.princeton.edu, the term "paranormal" means "seemingly outside normal sensory channels" or "not in accordance with scientific laws." In other words, anything that cannot be scientifically explained is considered paranormal. For many people, the word "paranormal" is synonymous with the word "haunted," as much paranormal activity has to do with purported ghosts.
Parapsychology
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The formal study of the paranormal is known as parapsychology. According to the American Institute of Parapsychology, research topics are varied, including topics such as extra sensory perception (ESP), apparitions, haunting and poltergeists, cults and occult practices, hallucinations, UFOs and psychic healing.
The vast majority of educational institutions, including parapsychology schools, do not offer actual degrees in the field. Some institutions do offer parapsychology as a minor, with a major in psychology.
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Popular Paranormal Research Training
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While parapsychology does study the science of paranormal behavior, it also focuses primarily on the scholarly aspect of it. A paranormal investigator, or a "ghost hunter," focuses mostly on gathering proof and catching tangible evidence. Many paranormal societies offer hands-on training and provide necessary equipment. The training teaches individuals how to investigate claims of paranormal activity by using electromagnetic field (EMF) meters, voice-activated digital sound recorders, photograph and video equipment, and infrared heat sensors.
Students are taught to search for logical explanations for the phenomena, and if none can be found, they are trained to gather as much evidence as possible to prove that it is truly an unexplainable event.
Where to Find Training
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Ghost-hunting has become a very popular and profitable business. Cable television shows about ghost hunters and their capers draw in viewers by the millions. Two of the organizations that host these shows, The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) and the Paranormal Research Society (PRS), offer extensive information and links on their websites, which are listed in the Resources section.
Flamel College allows individuals to become certified paranormal investigators, advanced paranormal investigators, UFO investigators, parapsychologists and electronic voice phenomena (EPV) technicians. They also offer a diploma in paranormal studies, which requires that the student take four of the aforementioned courses.
The Society for Paranormal Research and Investigation (SPRI), which is based in Pennsylvania, offers workshops where students learn the basics of researching paranormal phenomena in a classroom-type setting, and later get to go out with their instructors and do a hands-on investigation.
Why Studying the Paranormal is Growing in Popularity
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Strange balls of light appear on film. A young woman photographs an empty Civil War battlefield, only to discover the silhouette of a Union soldier on the developed photo. Doors allegedly open and close by themselves, tape recordings are made of voices that the human ear could not discern on its own. Faces "magically" appear in paintings.
In the past, events like these would have been dismissed, or conclusions would have been made based on fear and paranoia. Today, with high-definition digital photography and videography--specialized equipment and software that is easy to find, easy to use, and can be utilized on almost any computer--many believe that there is a very real science behind these phenomena. The hope is that a living proof of the unexplained will yield new science.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit ghost image by Larry from Fotolia.com
