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Volume 7: Number 4: Article 3
Applied Parapsychology: Studies of Psychics and Healers
Sybo A. Schouten, Psychology Laboratory, University of Utrecht, Heidelberglaan
2, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands and Department of Psychology, University
of Edinburgh
Most research in parapsychology is aimed at understanding and controlling
paranormal phenomena like telepathy, precognition and psychokinesis.
However, in everyday life the practical applications of these phenomena,
mainly by psychics and healers, play a more important role. People are
generally more interested in the question of how effective these applications
are than in scientific explanations of them. They want to know whether
they should consult a psychic for a specific problem or what to expect
from treatment by a paranormal healer. It is an important aspect of
scientific activity to provide society with answers to such questions;
answers not based on belief or disbelief in the paranormal but on factual
research data.
Research with psychics dates back to the last century. Considering
the complexity of the problem it is not surprising that it took many
years before proper statistical evaluation methods were developed. Based
on studies in which the paranormal impressions of psychics were quantitatively
evaluated an assessment is given of what happens when clients consult
a psychic and of the merit of the impressions on which the psychics
base their advice.
Compared to psychics, there exists a much larger community of active
paranormal healers. Despite this large number, the amount of research
carried out on paranormal healing is less than the number of studies
done with psychics. However, there are many studies available on complementary
medicine in general which provide data relevant for the interpretation
of the activities of psychic healers and of the main variables involved.
Two overview studies have been carried out, one on quantitatively evaluated
studies with psychics, the other on studies on psychic healing and on
complementary medicine. The present paper is a summary and overview
of the main results of both studies.
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