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Precognition

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Title: Precognition


1
Precognition
  • Lecture 8
  • Parapsychology
  • Paul Staples

2
Overview
  • What is precognition?
  • Occurrence of precognition
  • Characteristics of precognitive experiences
  • Historical background
  • Philosophical issues
  • Scientific evidence for precognition
  • Summary

3
Learning Objectives
  • By the end of this session you should
  • Be able to define precognition
  • Be aware of the prevalence characteristics of
    precognitive experiences
  • Be aware of the historical background
    philosophical issues relevant to precognition
  • Be aware of the scientific evidence for
    precognition

4
What is Precognition?
  • Precognition is a form of ESP
  • Clairvoyance concerning future events
  • Precognition - knowledge of a future event which
    cannot be inferred through known sensory means
  • Presentiment information about future events as
    emotions or feelings

5
Occurrence of Precognition
  • Precognition is the most frequently reported form
    of ESP
  • ¼ British people reported experience and 2/3
    accepted existence of premonitions
  • Occurs most often in dreams (60-70)
  • Also occurs as hallucinations, flashing thoughts
    a sense of knowing
  • May be induced by divination

6
Characteristics of Precognitive Experiences
  • Majority occur within 48 hours prior to the
    future event, most often within 24 hours
  • Most concern unhappy events (e.g. death)
  • Rarely observe own death
  • 80-85 involve a spouse, relative, friend
  • Remainder involve strangers e.g. plane crash,
    natural disaster

7
Examples of Precognitive Experiences
  • Aberfan disaster 1966, Eryl Mai Jones, dream the
    night before
  • Chemical explosion Grimsby 1974, newsflash five
    hours before
  • Abraham Lincoln dreamt about his funeral days
    before
  • General Grants wife experienced presentiment
    hours before

8
Examples of Precognitive Experiences
  • There are numerous examples of precognition in
    fiction
  • Minority Report
  • Jedi Knights in Star Wars
  • Spidermans spidersense
  • Jean Grey in x-men

9
Historical Background
  • Reliance upon precognition back to ancient times
  • Gift of prophecy in religion
  • Déjà vu (Boirac)
  • Future memory (Atwater, 1996)

10
Philosophical Issues
  • Suggests perceptual processes not recognised in
    science
  • Contradicts principle of causation
  • Explanations for precognition
  • Time is not linear
  • Normal (coincidence, self-fulfilling prophecy)
  • Supernormal (ESP, PK effects in the present)
  • Genuine precognition

11
Scientific Testing
  • Dunne (1927) Theory of Serial Time
  • J.B. Louisa Rhine (1930s)
  • Cox (1956) unconscious precognition
  • Klintman (1980s) Stroop - time reversed
    interference
  • Honorton Ferrari (1989) meta-analysis
  • Radin (1997) biophysical anticipation of emotion

12
Characteristics of Successful Experiments
  • Rattet Bursik (2001) extroverts intuitive
    more likely to experience precognition, but not
    paranormal belief
  • Sheep score higher on average than goats
  • Honorton Ferrari (1989)
  • Preselected participants
  • Trial by trial feedback

13
Summary
  • Precognition is most common form of ESP.
  • Mostly occurs in dreams.
  • Mostly occur 48 hours before event.
  • Dates back to ancient times.
  • Contradicts principle of causality.
  • Research supports existence of precognition

14
Further Reading
  • Henry, J. (2005). Parapsychology Research on
    exceptional experiences. UK Routledge. (Chapter
    8 Precognition and premonitions, Hearne
    Henry).
  • Irwin, , H.J. (2004). An introduction to
    parapsychology. Fourth Edition. USA McFarland.
    (Chapter 5 Extrasensory perception and time).
  • Radin, D. (1997). The Conscious Universe,
    LondonHarper Collins. (Chapter 7 Perception
    through time).

15
Further Reading
  • Roberts, R. Groome, D. (2001). Parapsychology
    The Psychology of Unusual Experience . UK Hodder
    Arnold. (Chapters 7 10 Dreams Paranormal
    Cognition).
  • Wikipedia (2005). Precognition.
    http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precognition
  • Themystica.com (2005). Precognition.
    http//www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/p/preco
    gnition.html

16
Further Reading (Advanced)
  • Radin, D. (1999). Evidence for an anomalous
    anticipatory effect in the autonomic nervous
    system (PDF), Boundary Institute.
  • Radin, D. May, E. (1999). Evidence for a
    retrocausal effect in the human nervous system
    (PDF), Boundary Institute.
  • Radin, D. (2000). Time-reversed human experience
    Experimental evidence and implications (PDF),
    Boundary Institute.
  • All available from
  • http//www.boundaryinstitute.org/articles

17
Further Reading (Advanced)
  • Rattet, S. L. Bursik, K. (2001). Investigating
    the Personality Correlates of Paranormal Belief
    and Precognitive Experience. Personality and
    Individual Differences, 31, 433-444.
  • Atwater, PMH. (1999). Future Memory, UKHampton
    Roads.
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