The Psychology of the Psychic
Encyclopedia
The Psychology of the Psychic is a work by David Marks
and Dr Richard Kammann, written while both were lecturers in psychology at New Zealand
's University of Otago
.
The original edition published in 1980 was co-authored with the late Richard Kammann. The second edition was published in 2000. Each edition contains a Foreword written by Martin Gardner
. The second edition is dedicated to Richard Kammann (1934-1984). Kammann died of a heart attack in 1984. Both of Kammann's brothers and one of his sisters also died due to heart attacks.
"The Psychology of the Psychic" is a skeptical analysis of claims of the paranormal. The book critiques a few notable studies within parapsychology
from the period 1970-2000.
The book contains a critical analysis of the remote viewing
experiments carried out in the 1970s at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) by two physicists Russell Targ
and Harold Puthoff. These studies formed part of the highly publicized STARGATE
studies funded by the Defense Intelligence Agency and CIA. Marks describes flaws in the experimental protocols of the original SRI that enabled the statistical significance of the results to become inflated. Marks reached the conclusion: "Remote viewing is nothing more than a self-fulfilling subjective delusion" (p. 92).
Marks is equally skeptical about paranormal claims such as the ganzfeld
, psychic staring and psychic pets as described by Rupert Sheldrake
, and Uri Geller
's performances. Regarding Geller, Marks concludes: "As far as I am aware, from my observation, Geller has no psychic ability whatsoever. However, he's a very clever, well-practiced magician" (p. 224).
In the final section of the book, some principles that Marks believes are helpful to the analysis of paranormal claims are described. Four different meanings of the term coincidence
are described. Skeptical analyses of the research of Alister Hardy
and Arthur Koestler
lead Marks to define "Koestler's Fallacy" as the assumption that odd matches of random events cannot arise by chance. Marks illustrates the fact that such odd matches do regularly occur with examples from his own experience. The Psychology of the Psychic describes research evidence concerning self-perpetuating beliefs and superstitious thinking.
Finally the book advocates what Marks and Kammann call "The Art of Doubt", the application of alternative skeptical thinking about the conventional beliefs and assumptions of our time.
In the Foreword to the first edition, Martin Gardner
appeals to his readers, opining:
ISBN 0-87975-122-3 (paper)
David Marks (psychologist)
David F. Marks is a psychologist who is largely concerned with four areas of psychological research - health psychology, cognitive psychology, parapsychology and IQ score variations...
and Dr Richard Kammann, written while both were lecturers in psychology at New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
.
The original edition published in 1980 was co-authored with the late Richard Kammann. The second edition was published in 2000. Each edition contains a Foreword written by Martin Gardner
Martin Gardner
Martin Gardner was an American mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, but with interests encompassing micromagic, stage magic, literature , philosophy, scientific skepticism, and religion...
. The second edition is dedicated to Richard Kammann (1934-1984). Kammann died of a heart attack in 1984. Both of Kammann's brothers and one of his sisters also died due to heart attacks.
"The Psychology of the Psychic" is a skeptical analysis of claims of the paranormal. The book critiques a few notable studies within parapsychology
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
from the period 1970-2000.
The book contains a critical analysis of the remote viewing
Remote viewing
Remote viewing is the practice of seeking impressions about a distant or unseen target using paranormal means, in particular, extra-sensory perception or "sensing with mind"...
experiments carried out in the 1970s at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) by two physicists Russell Targ
Russell Targ
Russell Targ is an American physicist and author, an ESP researcher, and pioneer in the earliest development of the laser....
and Harold Puthoff. These studies formed part of the highly publicized STARGATE
Stargate Project
The Stargate Project was the umbrella code name of one of several sub-projects established by the U.S. Federal Government to investigate claims of psychic phenomena with potential military and domestic applications, particularly "remote viewing": the purported ability to psychically "see" events,...
studies funded by the Defense Intelligence Agency and CIA. Marks describes flaws in the experimental protocols of the original SRI that enabled the statistical significance of the results to become inflated. Marks reached the conclusion: "Remote viewing is nothing more than a self-fulfilling subjective delusion" (p. 92).
Marks is equally skeptical about paranormal claims such as the ganzfeld
Ganzfeld
Ganzfeld is a term used to describe a particular phenomenon of visual perception. It is used most commonly in relationship to:* Ganzfeld effect, the psychological result of staring at an actual Ganzfeld...
, psychic staring and psychic pets as described by Rupert Sheldrake
Rupert Sheldrake
Rupert Sheldrake is an English scientist. He is known for having proposed an unorthodox account of morphogenesis and for his research into parapsychology. His books and papers stem from his theory of morphic resonance, and cover topics such as animal and plant development and behaviour, memory,...
, and Uri Geller
Uri Geller
Uri Geller is a self-proclaimed psychic known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other supposed psychic effects. Throughout the years, Geller has been accused of using simple conjuring tricks to achieve the effects of psychokinesis and telepathy...
's performances. Regarding Geller, Marks concludes: "As far as I am aware, from my observation, Geller has no psychic ability whatsoever. However, he's a very clever, well-practiced magician" (p. 224).
In the final section of the book, some principles that Marks believes are helpful to the analysis of paranormal claims are described. Four different meanings of the term coincidence
Coincidence
A coincidence is an event notable for its occurring in conjunction with other conditions, e.g. another event. As such, a coincidence occurs when something uncanny, accidental and unexpected happens under conditions named, but not under a defined relationship...
are described. Skeptical analyses of the research of Alister Hardy
Alister Hardy
Sir Alister Clavering Hardy, FRS was an English marine biologist, expert on zooplankton and marine ecosystems...
and Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler CBE was a Hungarian author and journalist. Koestler was born in Budapest and, apart from his early school years, was educated in Austria...
lead Marks to define "Koestler's Fallacy" as the assumption that odd matches of random events cannot arise by chance. Marks illustrates the fact that such odd matches do regularly occur with examples from his own experience. The Psychology of the Psychic describes research evidence concerning self-perpetuating beliefs and superstitious thinking.
Finally the book advocates what Marks and Kammann call "The Art of Doubt", the application of alternative skeptical thinking about the conventional beliefs and assumptions of our time.
In the Foreword to the first edition, Martin Gardner
Martin Gardner
Martin Gardner was an American mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, but with interests encompassing micromagic, stage magic, literature , philosophy, scientific skepticism, and religion...
appeals to his readers, opining:
- "For every person who reads this valuable book there are hundreds of naïve souls who would prefer to have their spines tingled by a sensational but worthless potboiler by some hack journalist of the paranormal. You who now read these sentences join a small but wiser minority".
External links
- Marks, D.F. & Kammann, R. (1980). The Psychology of the Psychic. Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books.ISBN 0-87975-121-5 (cloth)
ISBN 0-87975-122-3 (paper)
- Marks, D.F. (2000). The Psychology of the Psychic (2nd Ed.). New York: Prometheus Books. ISBN 1573927988
- http://www.prometheusbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=43_154&products_id=993&zenid= description on Prometheus BooksPrometheus BooksPrometheus Books is a publishing company founded in August 1969 by Paul Kurtz, who also founded the Council for Secular Humanism and co-founded the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He is currently the chairman of all three organizations. Prometheus Books publishes a range of books, including many...
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