Glossary of terms
This section is still under construction. Please email the site maintainer if
there are any terms used in these web pages that you would like to see added to the glossary
- Bio-PK
- Psychokinetic influence of biological systems e.g. altering the
haemolysis rate of blood cells in a test-tube, or changing the physiological
activity of a living system (see DMILS).
- Clairvoyance
- Literally 'Clear-Seeing'. A subset of ESP covering apparent
information transmission as though it were the result of visual perception.
The perception can appear externally - either replacing the normal visual
scene (as in visions) or being incorporated into it (as could be the case with
apparitions) - or internally, in the form of mental imagery and intuition.
(see ESP)
- Clairaudience
- Auditory form of ESP (compare with Clairvoyance).
- Clairsentience
- A general term covering clairvoyance, clairaudience, etc.
- Direct Mental Interaction with Living Systems (abbreviated to DMILS)
- Used to denote instances where one person is attempting to influence
a distant biological system, usually the physiology of another person. As
it is unclear whether this represents an influence (see Psychokinesis),
a case of ESP on the part of the influencee (see ESP) or an opportunistic
selection process (see DAT, the term 'interaction' has been adopted.
- Electrodermal response (EDA)
- A measure of skin conductance or resistance related to sympathetic
nervous system arousal. This response can be illicited by external stimuli
(a light, tone etc.), or by internal activity (e.g. emotions)
- Empathy
- Rarely used in modern parapsychology, the popular usage of this term refers
to a low-level form of telepathy wherein the empath appears to be aware
of the emotional state of a distant person. An empath may also be able to
'broadcast' emotions to others (cf. DMILS, ESP).
- Extrasensory perception (abbreviated to ESP)
- A general term used for all forms of psi where the process of information
acquisition appears to be analogous to the conventional sensory processes
of sight, sound, taste, touch and hearing.
- Healing
- Refers to a whole range of phenomena wherein one or more people
attempt to bring about the well-being of another person. This area is
very complex, involving a number of psychological and physical factors
that must be allowed for before a psi component is looked for (compare with
DMILS).
- Poltergeist
- A general term applied to a variety of site-, or sometimes person-, specific
physical phenomena. These can include temperature variations, anomalous sounds,
and movement of physical objects. The word 'poltergeist' literally means 'noisy spirit'
and was coined back when such phenomena were thought to be due to the presence of some sort
of mischevious entity. Currently, poltergeist phenomena are usually considered
to be related either to unusual physical conditions at the affected site, or
to be related to psychokinesis.
Anecdotal reports suggest that many poltergeist focus on an individual under
some form of emotional stress.
- Psi
- A general term which covers all parapsychological phenomena. Originally
derived from the use of the greek letter psi to denote the unknown quantity
in an equation.
- Psychic
- Popular term used to denote a person who regularly uses, or
who appears to be especially gifted with, psi abilities. Also refers to
general phenomena
related to the mind (from greek psyche).
- Psychic Surgery
- The supposed ability to paranormally perform invasive surgery using no
conventional medical tools. The psychic surgeon uses either an unsterilised knife,
or his bare hands, to appear to make an incision and remove some internal matter.
Once the operation is finished, there is no sign of an incision, nor are there
any unpleasant aftereffects (e.g. infection).
Many of the investigated cases have turned out to be fraudulent, involving
sleight of hand tricks to make the operation appear convincing. However, it
is possible that, in some circumstances, the ritual nature of the 'surgery'
could help effect a cure through the equally mysterious placebo effect.
- Psychokinesis (PK)
- The apparent ability to influence the environment seemingly by intention
alone. Parapsychologists usually distinguish between micro-PK
, where any effect is on a very small scale and is usually only detectable
by statistical analysis, and macro-PK, where the effects are readily seen.
Laboratory research tends to be on micro-PK, as this ability is one which
can apparently be demonstrated by a general population. The existence of macro-PK
is even more controversial, having rarely been demonstrated under controlled conditions
and being more susceptible to the possibility of fraud.
(psycho kinesis lit. mind movement).
- Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis (RSPK)
- See Poltergeist
- Telekinesis
- Another term for Psychokinesis. Sometimes used to denote PK effects
at a distance (tele kinesis lit. remote movement).
- Telepathy
- The apparent ability to communicate information from one mind to another.
This information may be 'received' in the form of that from the visual, auditory, olfactory,
tactile, gustatory or even kinaesthetic senses.
It is distinguished from clairsentience in that the information is assumed
to have originated from the mind of another person, rather than the target object
itself.
(tele pathy lit. remote speaking).
Last modified 29th. April 1996
Paul Stevens