Psychology of the Paranormal Email Network

Prof Erlendur Haraldsson on Kant as a psychical researcher @ Goldsmiths, 28/2/12

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:58:00 GMT

Hi All,

The next speaker in the APRU Invited Speaker Series is Prof Erlendur Haraldsson and the title of his talk is "Kant as a psychical researcher: Swedenborg's and Indridason´s descriptions of remote fires in Stockholm and Copenhagen" (both pretty baffling cases!). The talk will take place at 6:10 pm on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 (details below). As always, the talk is free, open to the public and there is no need to book. For further information, contact Robert Brotherton (email: ...@gold.ac.uk">r.br...@gold.ac.uk) or visit http://www.gold.ac.uk/apru/speakers/

NB: This talk was a late addition to the programme, so might not already be in your diary!

As always, feel free to forward this message to individuals or groups that may be interested in attending (if you received this email that way, you are strongly advised to subscribe to the (free) Psychology of the Paranormal email list at http://www.gold.ac.uk/apru/email-network/ in order to ensure that you are kept informed about any changes in schedule, future events, etc.). To be sure that you are informed immediately of any very last-minute changes, you might like to follow me on Twitter (Twitter name: chriscfrench - note the middle "c").

Best wishes,
Chris

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Who: Prof Erlendur Haraldsson (University of Iceland)

When: 6:10 pm, 28 February 2012

Where: Room LG01, New Academic Building, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW (for directions, maps, etc.: www.goldsmiths.ac.uk)

Title: Kant as a psychical researcher: Swedenborg's and Indridason´s descriptions of remote fires in Stockholm and Copenhagen

Abstract

The philosopher Immanual Kant was perplexed by stories about the paranormal feats of the Swedish scientist/mystic Emanuel Swedenborg. He asked a trusted English merchant-friend to interview witnesses. When Swedenborg was visiting Gothenburg in 1759 he described at a banquet a fire that raged near his home in Stockholm 247 miles away. The correctness of his descriptions were verified when news arrived in Gothenburg a few days later. The findings given to him by his investigator seem to have become an emotional issue for Kant for he expressed opposite views about it, a positive one in private and in public rejecting, ridiculing views.

Prof Haraldsson will review this famous case and a similar case from 1905, much better documented, that took place between Reykjavik and Copenhagen before radio or telephone communication existed between the two cities. Documents in Danish archives reveal fascinating details which will be displayed in a powerpoint presentation. There follows a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the cases and their possible explanations.

Biography

Erlendur Haraldsson is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Freiburg in Germany and did further studies at the University of Virginia. He has published over two hundred papers, mostly on anomalistic experiences, national surveys, field studies and experiments, and also on psychological testing and interrogative suggestibility. He is the author of five books, two of which have appeared in many languages (“At the hour of death” and “Miracles are my visiting cards”). For further details, see his homepage: http://www.hi.is/~erlendur/

Sleep-related experiences, religious belief and paranormal belief

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:20:00 GMT

Hi All,

If you can spare the time, your participation in the latest study from the APRU would be greatly appreciated. The study involves answering questions regarding your demographic details, your religious and paranormal beliefs, and a particular type of sleep-related experience. However, you do not need to have had any unusual sleep-related experiences in order to take part in the study. You can take part whether or not you have had any such experiences. The questionnaire should take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. The study is part of a 3rd year undergraduate project in Psychology, under my supervision.

If you would like to take part in the study, please click on the following link:

http://homepages.gold.ac.uk/apru/sleep-religion-paranormal/

Please forward this message on to any other individuals or groups that you feel may be interested in taking part.

With thanks and best wishes,
Chris

Andy Lewis on Alternative Medicine @ Goldsmiths, 21 Feb 2012

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:44:00 GMT

Hi All,

Final reminder!

The next speaker in the APRU Invited Speaker Series is the Andy Lewis of Quackometer fame and the title of his talk is "The Persistence of Delusion: Why do Some Alternative Medicines Thrive and Others Die?" The talk will take place at 6:10 pm on Tuesday, 21 February 2012 (details below). As always, the talk is free, open to the public and there is no need to book. For further information, contact Robert Brotherton (email: ...@gold.ac.uk">r.bo...@gold.ac.uk) or visit http://www.gold.ac.uk/apru/speakers/

Best wishes,
Chris

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Who: Andy Lewis

When: 6:10 pm, 21 February 2012

Where: Room LG01, New Academic Building, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW (for directions, maps, etc.: www.goldsmiths.ac.uk)

Title: The Persistence of Delusion: Why do Some Alternative Medicines Thrive and Others Die?

Abstract

The late eighteenth century was a very creative time for inventing new forms of quackery and some people became wealthy on the back of their creations. Of these creations, it is perhaps only homeopathy that has survived virtually unchanged into the 21st century. The majority of alternative medicines available today have been invented and developed within living memory, despite claims of their origins in antiquity.

What makes an alternative medicine successful? Why should homeopathy survive when the very popular Tractors of Perkins have long since been forgotten? Could you have predicted this in 1800? Today, we have a new industry of quack devices protecting us from mobile phones. Should you invest in such enterprises?

In this talk, Andy will look at the factors that allow patent medicines to thrive, and why consumers and practitioners latch onto them. Importantly, we shall explore the implications of these views for regulation and protecting the public from delusional or fraudulent claims.

Biography

Andy Lewis developed the Quackometer website that explores the pseudoscientific claims of alternative medicine websites and their impact on society.

PS: Re. New book on Anomalistic Psychology

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:31:00 GMT

Hi All,

Further to my email yesterday telling you about our new book "Anomalistic Psychology", a bargain at only £9.99, it's worth bearing in mind that it's even cheaper on Amazon - just £7.99!

http://amzn.to/wzXf3j

And thanks to Jim Clauson for pointing out that the book won't be released in the US until 10 April, available from amazon.com for just $16 (full price, $25):

http://amzn.to/wi51Uk

Best wishes,
Chris

New book on Anomalistic Psychology

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:40:00 GMT

Hi All,

You might be interested to check out the details of a new book, "Anomalistic Psychology", by Nicola J. Holt, Christine Simmonds-Moore, David Luke and myself:

http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?pid=504210

Description: From the ancient world to the present day, anomalous experiences - such as apparitions, premonitions, out-of-body and near-death experiences - provide stories that continue to mystify and intrigue.

In this lively introduction, the authors investigate what these stories signify, and why some people turn to the paranormal for explanation. From defining anomalous experiences to examining the psychological models and methods that have been used to explain them, this text will help open up these strange tales to analysis.

Whatever your level of study, this introduction will guide you through the key areas of this fascinating subject.

Reviews: 'A wonderful introduction to a fascinating topic. Clear, concise and comprehensive. It belongs on the bookshelf of everyone who is seriously curious about the human mind.' - Professor Richard Wiseman, School of Psychology, University of Hertfordshire, UK.

'Anomalistic Psychology is a thoughtful and careful introduction to this fascinating domain.' - Etzel Cardeña, Thorsen Professor of Psychology, Lund University, Sweden and co-author of Varieties of Anomalous Experience and Altering Consciousness.

'Psychology is the disciplined study of experience and behavior; anomalistic psychology studies those that are rare, unexplained, or both. Holt, Simmonds-Moore, Luke and French have written an admirable account of this emerging field, one that pushes the boundaries of psychology without falling over the edge.' - Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Saybrook University, and Co-editor, Varieties of Anomalous Experience.

Price: A bargain at only £9.99!

Best wishes,
Chris

Anomalistic Psychology Lecture in Wendover (Tues) and Wolverhampton (Thursday)

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:12:00 GMT

Hi All,

I will be doing my introductory Anomalistic Psychology talk (yes, that one) twice next week, once for Chiltern Humanists and once for the University of Wolverhampton Psychology Society (details below of time and venue). Both talks are open to the public but note that you must book at least 24 hours in advance for the Wolverhampton talk (again, details of how to do so below)

For both talks:

Title: Weird Science: An Introduction to Anomalistic Psychology

Summary: Ever since records began, in every known society, a substantial proportion of the population has reported unusual experiences many of which we would today label as “paranormal”. Opinion polls show that the majority of the general public accepts that paranormal phenomena do occur. Such widespread experience of and belief in the paranormal can only mean one of two things. Either the paranormal is real, in which case this should be accepted by the wider scientific community which currently rejects such claims; or else belief in and experience of ostensibly paranormal phenomena can be fully explained in terms of psychological factors. This presentation will provide an introduction to the sub-discipline of anomalistic psychology, which may be defined as the study of extraordinary phenomena of behaviour and experience, in an attempt to provide non-paranormal explanations in terms of known psychological and physical factors. This approach will be illustrated with exampl es relating to a range of ostensibly paranormal phenomena.

Best wishes,
Chris

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7:45 pm, 14/2/12, Talk for Chiltern Humanists, Wendover Public Library, High Street, Wendover HP22 6DU (opposite the Rossini Restaurant).

Further details at:

http://chilternhumanists.webs.com/events.htm

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1 pm, 16/2/12, Talk for University of Wolverhampton Psychology Society, Students Union lounge in the City campus of the university (for maps and directions, see http://www.wlv.ac.uk/default.aspx?page=6856 ) Free for members, £2 for non-members.

Further details at:

http://uwps.org.uk/2012/02/01/talk-by-professor-chris-french-16th-feb-at-1pm/

NB: Book at least 24 hours in advance via society email (...@wlv.ac.uk">psyc...@wlv.ac.uk) or through the website contact form:

http://uwps.org.uk/contact-us/

Andy Lewis on Alternative Medicine @ Goldsmiths on 21 February 2012

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Hi All,

The next speaker in the APRU Invited Speaker Series is the Andy Lewis of Quackometer fame and the title of his talk is "The Persistence of Delusion: Why do Some Alternative Medicines Thrive and Others Die?" The talk will take place at 6:10 pm on Tuesday, 21 February 2012 (details below). As always, the talk is free, open to the public and there is no need to book. For further information, contact Robert Brotherton (email: ...@gold.ac.uk">r.br...@gold.ac.uk) or visit http://www.gold.ac.uk/apru/speakers/

Best wishes,
Chris

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Who: Andy Lewis

When: 6:10 pm, 21 February 2012

Where: Room LG01, New Academic Building, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW (for directions, maps, etc.: www.goldsmiths.ac.uk)

Title: The Persistence of Delusion: Why do Some Alternative Medicines Thrive and Others Die?

Abstract

Biography

Andy Lewis developed the Quackometer website that explores the pseudoscientific claims of alternative medicine websites and their impact on society.

Rupert Sheldrake at the APRU: Audio recording now available

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:34:00 GMT

Hi All,

Thanks to Rob Brotherton and Mark Williams, a copy of the audio from Rupert Sheldrake's talk on "The Science Delusion" is now online. It will synchronise with iTunes (http://www.gold.ac.uk/apru/speakers/itunes) within the next 24 hours. It is already available on the APRU site (http://www.gold.ac.uk/apru/lectures/). It'll be online through The Skeptic (www.skeptic.org.uk/archive) by mid-evening today.

A video version will be made available but that may take a little longer!

Best wishes,
Chris

My latest Guardian column on the argument from spurious similarity

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:26:00 GMT

Hi All,

My latest Guardian column appeared yesterday on the argument from spurious similarity (using misguided claims of astrologers and those claiming that ritual Satanic abuse is widespread as examples):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/feb/07/astrologers-parallel-universes?CMP=twt_fd

Best wishes,
Chris

London Fortean Society, 23 Feb: Are We All Doomed? David Barrett & Peter Brookesmith

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:27:00 GMT

Hi All,

An interesting talk on the horizon (if the world lasts that long). From the London Fortean Society web site:

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Are We All Doomed? 2012 and other Prophecies

23 February 2012

Upstairs at The Bell pub, 50 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EX

Liverpool Street, Aldgate, Aldgate East stations

7.30 start. £3/£2 concessions
LFS co-founder and author on alternative religions Dr David V Barrett looks at recurring prophecies of Jesus’ return and how prophets cover their embarrassment when he doesn’t – again.

The failure of 2000/2001 to satisfy apocalyptic yearnings in the west has created a fresh focus on 2012 and the ‘end’ of the Mayan calendar (and maybe the whole world!). Regular Fortean Times contributor Peter Brookesmith surveys the 2012 apocalypse industry and analyses its appeal.

Each evening begins with the Fortmanteau, our monthly summary of strange news stories.

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Full details at:

http://forteanlondon.blogspot.com/2012/02/are-we-all-doomed-2012-and-other.html

Best wishes,
Chris

"Paranormal Week" on This Morning

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:59:00 GMT

Hi All,

In case you happen to be working at home this week and fancy a little break for a cuppa and a bit of telly, you might like to know that This Morning are having a paranormal week. I'll be doing tomorrow (a poltergeist case) and Thursday (UFOs) but today's sceptic is Deborah Hyde, the Editor of The Skeptic. Not sure who the sceptics are on other days or what time these items will air.

Best wishes,
Chris