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| accessmonthday = August 13 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> Scientists contend that psychokinesis does not really exist, and that claims that it does are based on [[publication bias]], fraud, delusion, statistical manipulation of scientific data, or other naturally explainable phenomena.<ref name=Carroll>{{cite web
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Revision as of 22:41, 26 June 2008

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The term psychokinesis (from the Greek ψυχή, "psyche", meaning mind, soul, heart, or breath; and κίνησις, "kinesis", meaning motion; literally "movement from the mind"),[1][2] also known as telekinesis[3] (Greek τῆλε + κίνησις, literally "distant-movement"), sometimes abbreviated PK and TK respectively, denotes the purported ability of the mind to influence matter, time, space, or energy by means outside the currently known laws of physics.[4] It has been called the most powerful of psychic powers, essentially the power of a god.[5] Examples of psychokinesis could include distorting or moving an object,[6] or influencing the output of a random number generator.[4][7][8] The study of phenomena said to be psychokinetic is an aspect of parapsychology. Some paranormal researchers believe that psychokinesis exists and deserves further study, pointing to experimental results such as those done using random number generators.[9][10] A long history of scientific investigation has had little success in demonstrating that people can move things without trickery. Scientific studies attempting to demonstrate psychokinesis have been called "unimpressive", and a meta-analysis of 30 dice studies found that those giving positive evidence did not meet criteria for a conclusive PK test.[11] Psychokinesis is popular in some entertainment movies and television programs featuring paranormal, fantasy, religious, and horror themes; written fiction; and computer games.

Terminology

Early history

Spirit photography hoaxer Édouard Isidore Buguet[12] (1840-1901) of France demonstrates telekinesis in this 1875 photograph titled Fluidic Effect.

The term "Telekinesis" was coined in 1890 by Russian psychical researcher Alexander N. Aksakof.[13][14] The term "Psychokinesis" was coined in 1914[15] by American author-publisher Henry Holt in his book On the Cosmic Relations[16][17] and adopted by his friend, American parapsychologist J. B. Rhine in 1934 in connection with experiments to determine if a person could influence the outcome of falling dice.[18][19] Both terms have been described by other names, such as "remote influencing", "distant influencing"[20] "remote mental influence", "distant mental influence",[21] "directed conscious intention", " anomalous perturbation",[22] and "mind over matter."[23] Originally telekinesis was coined to refer to the movement of objects thought to be caused by ghosts of deceased persons, mischievous spirits, angels, demons, or other supernatural forces.[23] Later when speculation increased that humans might be the source of the witnessed phenomena (that which was not caused by fraudulent mediums)[24] and could possibly cause movement without any connection to a spiritualistic setting, such as in a darkened séance room, psychokinesis was added to the lexicon, this distinction has been made to differentiate between the earlier use of the term telekinesis.[23] Eventually, psychokinesis was the preferred term by the parapsychological community (and still is) and it was suggested that telekinesis become obsolete.[18] Popular culture, however, such as movies, television, and literature, over the years preferred telekinesis to describe the paranormal movement of objects likely due to the word's resemblance to other terms, such as telepathy, teleportation, telephone and television.

Modern usage

As research entered the modern era, it became clear that many different, but related, abilities could be attributed to the wider description of psychokinesis and telekinesis is now regarded as one of the specialties of PK. In the 2004 U.S. Air Force-sponsored research report Teleportation Physics Study, the physicist-author Eric Davis, PhD, described the classification of PK and TK by writing that "telekinesis is a form of PK."[25] Psychokinesis, then, is the general term that can be used to describe a variety of complex mental force phenomena (including object movement) and telekinesis is used to refer only to the movement of objects, however tiny (a grain of salt or air molecules to create wind)[26] or large (an automobile, building, or bridge). Hypothetically, a person could have very profound telekinetic ability, but not be able to produce any of the additional effects found in psychokinesis, such as softening the metal of a spoon to allow its bending with minimal physical force. Conversely, someone who has succeeded in psychokinetically softening metal once or a number of times may exhibit no telekinetic ability to move objects.

Measurement and observation

A spontaneous PK case featured on the cover of the French magazine La Vie Mysterieuse in 1911.

Parapsychology researchers describe two basic types of measurable and observable psychokinetic and telekinetic effects in experimental laboratory research and in case reports occurring outside of the laboratory.[27][23][21] Micro-PK (also micro-TK) is a very small effect, such as the manipulation of molecules, atoms,[21] subatomic particles,[21] etc., that can only be observed with scientific equipment. The words are abbreviations for micro-psychokinesis, micropsychokinesis[26] and micro-telekinesis, microtelekinesis. Macro-PK (also macro-TK) is a large-scale effect that can be seen with the unaided eye. The adjective phrases "microscopic-scale," "macroscopic- scale," "small-scale," and "large-scale" may also be used; for example, "a small-scale PK effect."

Spontaneous effects

Spontaneous movements of objects and other unexplained effects have been reported, and many parapsychologists believe there are possibly forms of psychokinesis/telekinesis.[23][18] Parapsychologist William G. Roll coined the term "recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis" (RSPK) in 1958.[28][29] The sudden movement of objects without deliberate intention in the presence or vicinity of one or more witnesses is thought by some to be related to as-yet-unknown PK/TK processes of the subconscious mind.[26] Researchers use the term "PK agent," especially in spontaneous cases, to describe someone who is suspected of being the source of the PK action.[26][30] Outbreaks of spontaneous movements or other effects, such as in a private home, and especially those involving violent or physiological effects, such as objects hitting people or scratches or other marks on the body, are sometimes investigated as poltergeist cases.[31]

Umbrella term

Psychokinesis is the umbrella term under which are various related speciality abilities. Such abilities include:

  • Telekinesis; movement of matter (micro and macro; move, lift, agitate, vibrate, spin, bend, break, or impact)
  • Speed up or slow down the naturally occurring vibrations of atoms in matter to alter temperature,[32] possibly to the point of ignition if combustible (also known as pyrokinesis and cryokinesis respectively).[33]
  • Aerokinesis, the telekinetic subspecialty of being able to control the movement of air molecules specifically.[33]
  • Self levitation (including flying).[34]

Notable claimants of psychokinetic or telekinetic ability

  • Uri Geller (1946 – ), the Israeli famous for his spoon bending demonstrations, allegedly by PK.[23]
  • Nina Kulagina (1926 – 1990), alleged Soviet psychic of the late 1960s and early 1970s.[23]
  • Felicia Parise, an American medical laboratory technician who allegedly was able to repeatedly demonstrate telekinetic movement of small objects beginning in the 1970s, in the first reported instance spontaneously, and then with practice by intense conscious intention. She said her inspiration for making the attempt was in viewing the black-and-white films of Nina Kulagina performing similar feats.[34] Some of the items Parise reportedly caused movement in were a plastic pill container, compass needle, and pieces of aluminum foil (the latter two under a bell jar filmed by a magician).[21] During the height of her fame in the early 1970s , the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper in the United States, then printed in all black and white, featured her in a large photo on its cover seated at a table attempting to perform telekinesis with the headline: "First American to Move Objects with the Mind." Parise eventually retired from performing telekinesis due to the physical stress on her body.[21]
  • Eusapia Palladino (alternate spelling: Eusapia Paladino; 1854 - 1918) was an Italian medium who allegedly could cause objects to move during seances and was endorsed by world famous magician Howard Thurston (1869 – 1936), who witnessed her levitation of a table.[44]
  • Swami Rama (1925 – 1996), a yogi skilled in controlling his heart functions who was studied at the Menninger Foundation in the spring and fall of 1970, and was alleged by some observers at the foundation to have telekinetically moved a knitting needle twice from a distance of five feet.[45] Although Swami Rama wore a facemask and gown to prevent allegations that he moved the needle with his breath or body movements, and air vents in the room had been covered, at least one physician observer who was present at the time was not convinced and expressed the opinion that air movement was somehow the cause.[46] The test device was an uncovered, balanced knitting needle (one of two glued on top of each other at right angles) positioned under a floodlight in a room where incense had been burned prior to the test.[47]

See Also

Belief in telekinesis

Belief in psychokinesis varies greatly among individuals and cultures. In September 2006, a survey about belief in various religious and paranormal topics conducted by phone and mail-in questionnaire polled Americans on their belief in telekinesis. Of these participants, 28% of male participants and 31% of female participants selected "agree" or "strongly agree" with the statement "It is possible to influence the world through the mind alone". There were 1,721 participants, and the poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4%.[48]

In April 2008, British psychologist and skeptic Richard Wiseman published the results of an online survey he conducted, "Magicians and the Paranormal: A Survey," in which 400 magicians worldwide participated. For the question Do you believe that psychokinesis exists (i.e., that some people can, by paranormal means, apply a noticeable force to an object or alter its physical characteristics)?, the results were as follows: No 83.5%, Yes 9%, Uncertain 7.5%.[49]

Skepticism and controversy

The topic of psychokinesis is regarded as pseudoscience by many mainstream scientists. In the book Parapsychology: The Controversial Science (1991), British parapsychologist Richard S. Broughton, Ph.D, wrote of the differences of opinion among top scientists encountered by Robert G. Jahn, director of the (now-closed) PEAR laboratory, regarding the psychokinesis research that the lab was engaged in at the time. Jahn is quoted as saying that six Nobel laureates commented on the lab's work and that two firmly rejected the whole topic, two encouraged his team to push on, and two were unwilling to commit either way, thus indicating that negative and positive scientific opinion on the subject, even at the highest level, is not absolute.[21] Supporters of research in the field point out that many things in science were once thought impossible and ridiculed, only later to be proven true.[21] Henry Margenau, David Bohm, and O. Costa de Beauregard have publicly stated that they believe that nothing in quantum physics forbids the existence of psi phenomena.[21] Nobel laureate Brian Josephson has stated that the results of experiments in quantum physics that he has seen have produced more compelling evidence for the hypothetical existence of psi effects than the results of experiments done in the lab so far by parapsychologists.[21][50]

Anecdotal evidence

On the problems of eyewitness testimony concerning psychokinesis is that it constitutes Anecdotal evidence; that is, stories by eyewitnesses outside of controlled laboratory conditions. Anecdotal evidence is considered insufficient to establish the scientific validity of psychokinesis.[21]

Illusion of Control

In psychology there is a well-established phenomenon called the illusion of control, in which people think they have a degree of control of something when it makes no difference what they do. Such an illusory correlation between a person's intention and a physical effect could give a false impression of psychokinesis. Two examples of this in relation to psychokinesis are when a person claims to use PK to affect the outcome of a roll of dice, which could be merely a one in 11 chance event, and when a claim is made to be able to control the appearance or disappearance of clouds. See also Observer-expectancy effect.

Magic and special effects

Magicians, sleight-of-hand-artists, etc., have successfully simulated some of the specialized abilities of PK (object movement, spoon bending, levitation, teleportation), but not all of the feats of claimed spontaneous and intentional psychokinesis have been reproduced under the same observed conditions as the original.[21][51] According to Robert Todd Carroll, author of The Skeptic's Dictionary , there are many impressive magic tricks available to amateurs and professionals to simulate psychokinetic powers.[52] These can be purchased on the Internet from magic supply companies. Amateur-made videos alleging to show feats of psychokinesis, particularly spoon bending and the telekinetic movement of objects, can be found on video-sharing websites such as YouTube. Critics point out that it is now easier than ever for the average person to fake psychokinetic events and that without more concrete proof, the topic, apart from its enjoyment in fiction, will continue to remain controversial.[33]

Statements by skeptics

The more vocal members of the skeptical community assert that because some PK effects can be reproduced or simulated by trickery or special effects, that is a more reasonable explanation than to accept that the laws of physics should be rewritten.[21] To support their side of the argument, skeptics may invoke the principles of parsimony, Occam's razor, the lack of replicable experimental evidence for psychokinesis, and the saying "extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof" to support their position.

Michael Shermer

Michael Shermer, the executive director of the Skeptics Society and founding publisher/editor-in-chief of Skeptic magazine, who also writes a monthly column for Scientific American magazine, stated in 1997 and again in 2002 in his book Why People Believe Weird Things his position that people who claim to have witnessed psychic phenomena, which includes psychokinesis, "have committed an error in thinking " and are "misinformed" about what they claim they personally experienced or observed. Shermer has a Ph.D in the history of science and masters and B.A. degrees in psychology. He is one of the world's leading skeptics of the paranormal.

So we are left with the legacy of two types of thinking errors: Type 1 Error: believing a falsehood and Type 2 Error: rejecting a truth . ... Believers in UFOs, alien abductions, ESP, and psychic phenomena have committed a Type 1 Error in thinking: they are believing a falsehood. ... It' s not that these folks are ignorant or uninformed; they are intelligent but misinformed. Their thinking has gone wrong.

— Michael Shermer, Why People Believe Weird Things, 1997, 2002, Introduction

James Randi

James Randi is an author, magician, and long-time lecturer of paranormal skepticism. In 1999, he founded the James Randi Educational Foundation which he continues to direct. He has stated that psychic feats, such as the alleged softening of metal described in "spoon bending," in his view, have contributed only to society's understanding of fraud. Randi's formal education consists of completion of elementary school in Canada, several years of high school (did not graduate) and at age 67, an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Indianapolis.[53] He described himself as a "child prodigy" with an IQ of 168 (Stanford-Binet scale) in a 2001 Skeptic magazine interview conducted by Michael Shermer[54] and again in his Swift JREF column on January 25, 2008[55]; however, this claim has never been independently verified.

More importantly, I think, we should ask why not one of the " discoveries" of parapsychology — the reality of mental spoon-bending, survival -after-death, ESP, etc., has made one iota of change in our lives, in science , in philosophy, or in any disciplines — except for the field of fraud and swindle, of course.

— James Randi, Swift JREF online newsletter, November 21, 2003

Carl Sagan

The late Carl Sagan, who had a Ph.D in astronomy and astrophysics and Masters and B.A. degrees in physics, offered this advice to scientists and the public at large about psychokinesis research in his 1995 book The Demon-Haunted World:

Typical offerings of pseudoscience and superstition—this is merely a representative, not a comprehensive, list— are... extrasensory perception (ESP), such as telepathy, precognition, telekinesis, and "remote viewing" of distant places;... It is barely possible that a few of these paranormal claims might one day be verified by solid scientific data.   But it would be foolish to accept them without adequate evidence.  In the spirit of garage dragons, it is much better, for those claims not already disproved or adequately explained, to contain our impatience, to nurture a tolerance for ambiguity, and to await—or, much better, to seek— supporting or disconfirming evidence.

— Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World , 1995, pages 221, 224

Prize money for proof of psychokinesis

Internationally, there are various individual skeptics of the paranormal and skeptics' organizations who offer cash prize money to anyone—or anyone who meets a criterion of eligibility, such as a certain level of fame—who can successfully demonstrate the existence of an extraordinary psychic power, such as psychokinesis, which is currently regarded by mainstream science as being paranormal in origin, according to an agreed-upon experiment. These prizes have remained uncollected by people claiming to possess paranormal abilities.[citation needed]. The James Randi Educational Foundation offers 1,000,000 US dollars to anyone who has a demonstrated media profile as well as the support from some member of the academic community, and who can produce a paranormal event under previously controlled, mutually agreed upon circumstances. The money is kept in an escrow account with Goldman-Sachs in New York.

Notable witnesses to PK events

Psychokinetic events have been witnessed by  psychologists in the United States at the Ph.D, Masters, and B.A. degree levels,[56][57][58] and in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world by  professionals with medical degrees,[59][58] physicists,[60]  electrical engineers,[57] military personnel,[61][62] police officers,[63][64]  and other professionals and ordinary citizens. Robert M. Schoch, Ph.D, a Yale-educated geologist, geophysicist, author, and professor at Boston University has written "I do believe that some PK is real" referring to the evidence for micro-PK obtained by the Princeton PEAR laboratory experiments and similar studies and some reports of macro-RSPK observed in poltergeist cases. He once witnessed a book "jumping off a shelf" while in a room where a female PK agent was also present.[65]

Michael Crichton

Best-selling author Michael Crichton (The Andromeda Strain, Jurassic Park, etc.), who graduated from Harvard College and received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School,[59] and is a past recipient of the Association of American Medical Writers Award,[59] described his successful experience with psychokinesis at a "spoon bending party" in his 1988 book Travels:[59]

I looked down. My spoon had begun to bend. I hadn't even realized. The metal was completely pliable, like soft plastic. It wasn't particularly hot, either, just slightly warm. I easily bend the bowl of the spoon in half, using only my fingertips. This didn't require any pressure at all, just guiding with my fingertips. I put the bent spoon aside and tried a fork. After a few moments of rubbing, the fork twisted like a pretzel. It was easy. I bent several more spoons and forks. ... I had bent a spoon, and I knew it wasn't a trick. I looked around the room and saw little children, eight or nine years old, bending large metal bars. They weren't trying to trick anybody.

— Michael Crichton, Travels , 1988, pages 319-320

Dean Radin

Parapsychologist and author Dean Radin has reported that he, too, was able to bend the bowl of a spoon over with unexplained ease of force with witnesses present at an informal PK experiment gathering. Radin has a Ph.D in psychology from the University of Illinois, a Masters degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, and a B.A. degree in electrical engineering, magna cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts.[57] He described his experience in his 2006 book Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality and online (with photos):[57]

I was much more skeptical about such claims until one day I personally folded the bowl of a large, heavy soup spoon in half with a gentle touch, and with half a dozen witnesses present. I later tested to see if I could do this again with a similar spoon using ordinary force. I couldn't budge the bowl without the assistance of two pairs of pliers and some serious leverage. So I have good reason to doubt the usual skeptical assertion that all cases of metal-bending are conjuring tricks or due to unconscious use of force.

— Dean Radin, Entangled Minds, page 331
Psychokinesis depicted in religious artwork: The Resurrection of Lazarus, painting by Leon Bonnat, France, 1857.[66]
Religion and mythology

There are written accounts and oral legends of events fitting the description of psychokinesis dating back to early history, most notably in the stories found in various religions and mythology. In the Bible, for example, Jesus is described as miraculously walking on water, transmuting water into wine, healing the sick, and reversing physical disability or even death by an act of touch or willing it to be so.[67]

Mythological beings, such as witches, have been accused of levitating people, animals, and objects.[68]

The court wizard and prophet Merlin in the King Arthur legend, is said to have used his power to transport Stonehenge across the sea to England from Ireland.[69]

Popular culture
See also Superpower (ability) and Fictional characters with telekinesis

Psychokinesis has a well-established existence in movies, television, computer games, literature, and other forms of popular culture. In the 1976 film Carrie, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, Sissy Spacek portrayed a troubled high school student with telekinetic powers. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, the first psychokinetic character in a film ever to be so recognized (Ellen Burstyn was the second, in 1980's Resurrection). Numerous characters have the ability to control the movement of objects using the "the Force" in the Star Wars canon. In the 1988 anime movie Akira (film), a few of the main characters use telekinesis throughout the film.

The comic book character Jean Grey of the X-Men exhibits powerful telekinetic ability. Also from the TV show Heroes, the serial killer Sylar frequently exhibits telekinetic ability. It is also commonly used as a power in a large number of videogames and role playing games.

See also

References

  1. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. Boston, Massachusetts USA: Random House Reference. 2001. p. p. 1560. ISBN 0-375-42599-3. psycho-, a combining form representing psyche in compound words. ... (Gk, comb. form of psyche breath, spirit, soul, mind; akin to psycheim to blow). {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  2. ^ The New Oxford American Dictionary. New York City: Oxford University Press. 1994. p. p. 1367. ISBN 0-19-517077-6. psycho. comb. form relating to the mind or psychology: ...from Greek psukhe breath, soul, mind. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  3. ^ "Encyclopedia Britannica online: psychokinesis". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b "Parapsychological Association, glossary of key words frequently used in parapsychology". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Kaku, Michio (2008). Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the Worlds of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel. New York: Doubleday. p. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-385-52069-0. Of all the powers ascribed to ESP, psychokinesis—or mind over matter, or the ability to move objects by thinking about them—is by far the most powerful, essentially the power of a deity. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)The book has a 15-page chapter titled Psychokinesis. Michio Kaku is an American professor of theoretical physics.
  6. ^ Search+OMD "On-Line Medical Dictionary: psychokinesis". {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Jeffers, Stanley (May/June 2007, Vol. 31, Issue 3). "PEAR Lab Closes, Ending Decades of Psychic Research," Skeptical Inquirer. Amherst, New York, USA: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. p. p. 16. Much of the work of the PEAR group has employed 'random event generators' (REGs), which are essentially electronic random number generators whose ' operators' are invited by dint [force, power] of their own intentionality, to bias in such a way, that the mean of the random number distribution would be either higher or lower than it would be in the absence of their intentional efforts... {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  8. ^ "Parapsychological Association FAQ". Parapsychological Association. 1995. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  9. ^ http://parapsych.org/faq_file3.html#20 FAQ on the Parapsychological Association's website, Retrieved October 5, 2007
  10. ^ "Parapsychological Association FAQs - discussion of random number generator experiments". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Carroll, Robert Todd (2005). "psychokinesis (PK)". Skepdic.com. The Skeptics Dictionary. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  12. ^ Hajela, Deepti (October 3, 2005). "New exhibit looks at occult photography" (html). Associated Press story. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  13. ^ Myers, Frederic William Henry (December 1890). Proceedings. London, England: the journal of the Society for Psychical Research. For the alleged movements without contact... M. A. Aksakof's new word 'telekinetic' seems to me the best attainable.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link) Note: this quote as a cited reference can also be found in the multivolume "The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition", 1989, Clarendon Press, Oxford, England, ISBN 0-19-861229-X."
  14. ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Telekinesis. 1890, said to have been coined by Alexander N. Aksakof (1832-1903) Imperial Councilor to the Czar... Translates Ger. 'Fernwirkung.' {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Springfield, Massachusetts, USA: Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. 2005. p. p. 1004. ISBN 0-87779-809-5. Psychokinesis (1914).... {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  16. ^ "Parapsychology Foundation "Basic terms in Parapsychology"". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Holt, Henry. On the Cosmic Relations (PDF). Cambridge: Houghton Mifflin. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  18. ^ a b c Spence, Lewis (1920). Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. Kessinger Publishing (reprint publisher). p. pp. 752-753, 879, 912, 933. ISBN 0-7661-2817-2. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  19. ^ "Parapsychological Association - Glossary: PK/Psychokinesis". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ , "Overview of Current Parapsychology Research in the Former Soviet Union, Introduction" (PDF). Subtle Energies Volume 3, Number 3. 1992. p. 1. AMP research programs in the Soviet Union have primarily focused on experimental studies in 'distant influence' on animate an inanimate systems; i.e., psychokinesis (PK) and bio-PK. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Broughton, Richard S. (1991). Parapsychology: The Controversial Science. New York: Ballantine Books. pp. pp. 35, 75–79, 149, 161–162, 329–330. ISBN 0-345-35638-1. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  22. ^ "Overview of Current Parapsychology Research in the Former Soviet Union, Abstract" (PDF). Subtle Energies Volume 3, Number 3. 1992. p. 1. The authors primarily discuss experiments in anomalous perturbation (often referred to as psychokinesis—PK and bio- which have been the main focus of AMP research programs in the Soviet Union. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ a b c d e f g Berger, Arthur S. (1991). The Encyclopedia of Parapsychological and Psychical Research. New York: Paragon House. pp. pp. 326, 341, 430. ISBN 1-55778-043-9. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ Man, Myth & Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Mythology, Religion, and the Unknown. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation. 1995 [1970]. p. p. 2442. ISBN 1-85435-731-X. Spiritualism aroused violent antagonism and criticism concentrating particularly on the physical phenomena occurring at seances, which opponents claimed were faked. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  25. ^ Davis, Eric; physicist, Ph.D, U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, 2004. "Teleportation Physics Study" (PDF). p. p. 55. Telekinesis is a form of PK, which describes the movement of stationary objects without the use of any known physical force. {{cite web}}: |page= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ a b c d e Guiley, Rosemary Ellen (1991). Encyclopedia of the Strange, Mystical & Unexplained. New York: Gramercy Books. p. pp. 454, 456, 478, 609. ISBN 0-517-16278-4. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  27. ^ "Library.ThinkQuest.org - Glossary: Macro PK and Micro PK". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ Roll, William G. (1958). The Seaford Disturbances. Journal of Parapsychology, Vol. 2,. pp. pp. 79-124. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  29. ^ "Parapsychological Association - Glossary: "RSPK"". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ Pratt, J. G. (Vol. 70, January 1976). An Instance of Possible Metal-Bending Indirectly Related to Uri Geller. The Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research. As far as I can say, no one in the apartment that night would take credit for being the responsible PK agent. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  31. ^ Mysteries of the Unexplained. Readers Digest Association. 1990. p. p. 181. ISBN 0-89577-146-2. Attempting to understand the forces at work, researchers in parapsychology have hypothesized that the poltergeist's feats in moving objects (which are seen to fly in violation of the laws of gravity, gliding, rising, and turning corners) are examples of psychokinesis, or PK—the ability to influence inanimate objects by mind power. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  32. ^ Kakalios, James (2005). The Physics of Superheores. New York: Gotham Books/Penguin Group, Inc. p. p. 133. ISBN 1-592-40146-5. Knowing that all matter is composed of atoms, we now recognize that when an object is "hot," the kinetic energy of the constituent atoms is large, while when an object is 'cold,' the kinetic energy of the atoms is lower. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  33. ^ a b c Genzmer, Herbert (2007). "Psychokinesis". Mysteries of the World: Unexplained Wonders and Mysterious Phenomena. Bath, United Kingdom: Parragon Books Ltd. p. p. 194. ISBN 978-1-4054-9022-1. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ a b c d e f g Mind Over Matter (volume of Mysteries of the Unknown encyclopedia series). New York: Time-Life Books. 1988. p. pp. 7-8, 27, 82, 85. ISBN 0-8094-6336-9. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  35. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. New York: Random House Reference. 2001. ISBN 0-375-42599-3. Psychokinesis...deform inanimate objects, as metal spoons
  36. ^ Hathaway, Michael R. (2003). "Glossary". The Everything Psychic Book. Avon, Massachusetts, USA: Adams Media / F+W Publications Company. pp. pp. 139, 271. ISBN 1-58062-969-5. Psychokinesis. The ability to levitate, move objects, heal, and manipulate psychic energy...Psychokinesis is the ability to...create healing. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  37. ^ Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Springfield, Massachusetts, USA: Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. 2004. p. p. 1284. ISBN 0-87779-809-5. Teleportation. The act or process of moving an object or person by psychokinesis. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  38. ^ Colman, Andrew M. (2001). Dictionary of Psychology. Oxford, England, UK: Oxford University Press. p. p. 599. ISBN 0-19-866211-4. Psychokinesis. The movement or change of physical objects by mental processes {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  39. ^ Man, Myth & Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Mythology, Religion, and the Unknown. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation. 1995. p. p. 2354. ISBN 1-85435-731-X. Shape-shifting. The idea that it is possible, in certain circumstances, for men to change their natural bodily form... Sorcerers also, and some great heroes, were believed to have the same power, by virtue of magical knowledge or some innate quality; and so, though more rarely, were a few otherwise ordinary people who acquired the gift through possession of a charm or the performance of a ritual act. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  40. ^ "Mass Media Funk". The Skeptic's Dictionary. Those who practice TT [Therapeutic Touch] believe they are able to move 'energy,' some sort of psychic force field or chi which they believe permeates the body and surrounding aura. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  41. ^ Bersani, F. (1983). Psychoenergetics: The Journal of Psychophysical Systems. United Kingdom: Gordon and Breach Science Publishers. pp. pp. 99-128. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |qutoe= ignored (help)
  42. ^ McCoy, Edain (2006). Astral Projection for beginners. Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewllyn Publications. p. p. 207. ISBN 1-56718-625-4. Creative visualization is the practice of mentally envisioning a desired outcome, infusing it with personal energy, and then releasing it to the cosmos so that it can grow to manifest in the physical. While all that sounds unduly complicated, what it boils down to is that it creates a thoughtform on the astral plane that, with proper effort, can be brought into the physical world. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  43. ^ Man, Myth & Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Mythology, Religion, and the Unknown. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation. 1995. p. p. 2679. ISBN 1-85435-731-X. The evocation of a tulpa, an entity created entirely by an act of the imagination, was described by Alexandra David-Néel in her book Magic and Mystery in Tibet (1929). {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  44. ^ Muldoon, Sylvan (1947). Psychic Experiences of Famous People. Chicago: Aries Press. pp. pp.55-56. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help) See endorsement quote by Thurston at Eusapia Palladino article. Text of entire book also available at google.books.com
  45. ^ Green, Elmer (1977). Beyond Biofeedback. Knoll Publishing Co. pp. pp. 197-218. ISBN 0440005833. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  46. ^ "http://www.swamij.com/pdf/swami-rama-beyond-biofeedback.pdf" (PDF). pp. pp. 12-16. {{cite web}}: |pages= has extra text (help); External link in |title= (help); Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)Elmer Green's description of Swami Rama's alleged psychokinetic demonstration (with illustrations).
  47. ^ "http://www.geocities.com/swamiramabio/ResearchSwamiRama.htm". {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help); Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) Photo of the uncovered balanced knitting needle device (a typical psi wheel) that Swami Rama allegedly influenced by telekinesis.
  48. ^ http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/33304.pdf Study conducted by the Gallup Organization between October 8, 2005 and December 12, 2005 on behalf of the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University, of Waco, Texas, in the United States.
  49. ^ "Magicians and the Paranormal: A Survey". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) Published April 23, 2008.
  50. ^ Nobel laureate Brian Josephson (May 5, 1987). The Unexplained. London: BBC World Service radio program.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link) broadcast interview. }}
  51. ^ "What Magicians Say About Uri Geller". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  52. ^ "The Skeptic's Dictionary - SkepDic.com: psychokinesis (PK)". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)Robert Todd Carroll: "The variety of magic tricks used to demonstrate psychokinetic powers is impressive. Scientists have been investigating PK since the mid-19th century but with little success at demonstrating that anyone can move even a feather without trickery involving something as simple and obvious as blowing on objects to move them."
  53. ^ "http://randi.org/jr/bio.html". Retrieved 2007-06-09. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)From Randi's bio: "1995: A degree honoris causa, Doctor of Humane Letters, was awarded Mr. Randi from the University of Indianapolis."
  54. ^ "http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-10428115_ITM". Retrieved 2007-06-09. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)"Skeptic: But you didn't finish high school, did you? Randi: Correct, I didn 't. You had to finish all five years and, frankly, I was not in school most of the time because I was one of those child prodigies. I'm not boasting about it. It's a simple fact that I had those particular conditions of mind that allowed me to learn very quickly. My IQ, as tested by the Stanford-Binet, was 168."
  55. ^ "http://www.randi.org/joom/content/view/151/1/". Retrieved 2008-01-26. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)Swift January 25, 2008: "...I had an IQ of 168 / Stanford-Binet and was classified as 'Genius or Near-Genius.'"
  56. ^ Roll, William G. (2004). Unleashed — Of Poltergeists and Murder: The Curious Story of Tina Resch. New York: Paraview Pocket Books/Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-7434-8294-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) William G. Roll, Ph.D in psychology from Lund University in Sweden; Jeannie Lagle, Masters degree in psychology. Both witnessed PK involving Tina Resch. Roll additionally witnessed PK in numerous other cases he investigated and wrote about. See his Wiki article for other case references or elswhere in this article's reference list under "Types of abilities - control of photons".
  57. ^ a b c d "Official website of Dean Radin". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) see also [1]
  58. ^ a b "Official website of Pamela Heath". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  59. ^ a b c d "Official website of Michael Crichton". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) See also spoonbending.html.
  60. ^ Hasted, John B. (1981). The Metal Benders. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. ISBN 0-7100-0597-0.John B. Hasted (1921-2002), M.A., Ph.D. Chairman and Professor, Department of Physics, Birkbeck College, University of London. In his book The Metal- Benders, he describes his research of PK claimants and PK events he personally witnessed.
  61. ^ Johnson, Ron (2004). The Men Who Stare at Goats. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. p. 63, (Back cover). ISBN 0-7432-7060-6. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)"In 1979, a secret unit was established by the most gifted minds within the U.S. . Army. Defying all known accepted military practice—and indeed, the laws of physics—they believed that a solidier could adopt a cloak of invisibility, pass cleanly through walls, and, perhaps most chillingly, kill goats just by staring at them."; "Lenny from Special Forces disappeared into the room where the goat was. He came back and answered, with surprise and solemnity, "The goat is down.'"
  62. ^ Steinberg, Jeffey (August 26, 2005). Cheney's 'Spoon-Benders' Pushing Nuclear Armageddon. Executive Intelligence Review.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)"In reality, Fort Bragg, by 1978, was already a hotbed of mind-war experimentation. Among the programs carried out at remote corners of the sprawling special operations base: the Goat Lab, where a team of New Age- trained Special Forces soldiers attempted to burst the hearts of goats, in an adjacent holding pen, through the power of psychic concentration." Article available online at http://www.uri-geller.com/articles/2005/august/eir.htm.
  63. ^ "1970 Poltergeist in St. Catherines, Ontario". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) Handwritten official police reports of a 1970 spontaneous PK case witnessed by officers of the Niagara Regional Police in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada.
  64. ^ Roll, William G. (2004). Unleashed — Of Poltergeists and Murder: The Curious Story of Tina Resch. New York: Paraview Pocket Books/Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-7434-8294-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Two police officers witnessed alleged PK activity in the Resch home in the 1984 Columbus poltergeist case.
  65. ^ Schoch, Robert M. (January/February 2008 issue). Psychokinesis: A Scientist Searches for the Reality Behind PK's Representations. Livingston, Montana USA: Atlantis Rising magazine. pp. pp. 42-43, 70–71. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  66. ^ Heath, Pamela Rae, M.D., Psy.D. (2003). The PK Zone: A Cross-Cultural review of Psychokinesis. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse. p. p. 3. ISBN 0-595-27658-X. Religion has seemed to provide fertile ground for both spontaneous and intentional PK. Every great religious tract of mankind includes stories of people with the ability to heal and to multiply food, such as the Bible says were performed by Jesus Christ. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  67. ^ Brian, Denis (2000). The Voice of Genius: Conversations with Nobel Scientists and Other Luminaries. New York: Basic Books, imprint of Perseus Books. p. p. 288. ISBN 9-780738-204475. . . . parapsychologists are studying some of the unusual events recorded in the Bible: changing water into wine could be called psychokinesis; . . . People have spoken of such things from early times and they seem to occur in every civilization. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  68. ^ Guiley, Rosemary Ellen (1989). The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft. New York: Facts on File. p. p. 201. ISBN 0-8160-1793. In hauntings, witches, poltergeists, and fairies have been blamed for levitating people, animals, and objects. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help); Check |isbn= value: length (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  69. ^ Newall, Venetia (1974). The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft & Magic. New York: The Dial Press. p. p. 121. ISBN 0-8037-2343-1. He performed many feats of magic, sailing through the ocean in a house of glass and transporting Stonehenge across the sea from Ireland. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

Further reading

  • The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena, Dean Radin, HarperEdge, 1997.
  • Distant Mental Influence, William Braud, Hampton Roads Publishing, Inc. , 2003. ISBN 1-57174-354-5. (largely a collection of published scientific research papers on formal experiments in psychokinesis conducted by the author with others between 1983 to 2000).
  • Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality, Dean Radin, Pocket Books, 2006.
  • The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe, Lynne McTaggart, HarperCollins, 2008, updated paperback edition. ISBN 978-0-06-143518-8.
  • Flim Flam!, James Randi, Prometheus Books, 1982. ISBN 0-87975-198-3.
  • Hauntings and Poltergeists: Multidisciplinary Perspectives, James Houran and Rense Lange, editors; McFarland Press, 2001. A collection of science articles by leading researchers on documented ghost and spontaneous PK cases, with technical discussion also of possible methods of action for PK. ISBN

0786409843.

Published Scientific Papers on PK / TK

Military Papers on PK / TK

  • Psychokinesis and Its Possible Implication to Warfare Strategy A 1985 study on potential military applications of psychokinesis by the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas USA. Listed at the U.S. Defense Technical Information Center's website and available to the public through the U.S. National Technical Information Service.
  • Teleportation Physics Study A study published in 2004 that reviews the current state research of real and hypothetical methods of teleportation. Includes a section titled PK phenomenon. Conducted by Eric Davis of Warp Drive Metrics, Nevada and sponsored by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory at Edwards AFB, California. Available publicly on the Federation of American Scientists website.
  • New Correlation Between a Human Subject and a Quantum Mechanical Random Number Generator A 1967 study by Helmut Schmidt conducted at the Boeing Scientific Research Laboratory in Seattle, Washington USA that concluded: "From the results, it is tentatively concluded that there exists a weak but significant correlation between the statistical processes operative in these experiments and the experimenter who initiates the processes." Listed at the U.S. Defense Technical Information Center's website and available to the public through the U.S. National Technical Information Service.
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