Extrasensory Perception — Occult Philosophy

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🕯️ Occult Philosophy

Extrasensory Perception

Name: Extrasensory Perception
Price: 65.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780202362717

✍️ Schmeidler, Gertrude

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4.5

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This volume addresses why individuals score differently on extrasensory perception tests by looking directly at psychological determinants. Gertrude Schmeidler brings together contrasting academic voices to display the tension within psychic research. Readers encounter direct exchanges between skeptics and proponents, including Hansel's critiques paired with Rhine and Pratt's responses. Crumbaugh contributes an analysis of theoretical obstacles, while other contributors explore experimental conditions. By linking psychic inquiries to broader psychological principles, the collection demonstrates how scientific methodology handles controversial phenomena through published research reports and detailed commentary.

Schmeidler, Gertrude

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🕯️

Occult Philosophy

🏛 Routledge 📅 2009 📖 174 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780202362717

Fun Fact

This collection offers a refreshingly balanced and intellectually stimulating examination of extrasensory perception, focusing on psychological nuances often overlooked. It excels at presenting the core debates within the field, making it indispensable for serious students of parapsychology. Readers seeking sensational claims or definitive proof may find its academic rigor less immediately gratifying. It stands as a foundational text for understanding psychic phenomena's scientific and psychological complexities.

📝 Description: Extrasensory Perception

Gertrude Schmeidler collects nine essays and an intro section examining the psychological factors that cause people to succeed or fail on extrasensory perception tests. The text details research into telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition, while showing the intense academic debates surrounding the field. It includes a specific attack on ESP research by C. E. M. Hansel, followed immediately by a direct rebuttal written by J. B. Rhine and J. G. Pratt. Additionally, J. C. Crumbaugh provides a balanced overview of core issues in the discipline, alongside six additional essays focused on psychological variables. Organized for clear comparative reading, each included essay comes with an accompanying comment that connects the paper to the broader discipline. The text cites a substantial number of original research reports throughout its pages, providing direct references for readers seeking source data. The material highlights how critics raise questions about ESP that connect directly to fundamental problems within general psychology. This volume suits practicing psychologists, educators, and general readers interested in psychological research and psychic phenomena. It also serves well as supplementary course material. It does not suit readers looking for step-by-step guides or non-academic perspectives, as its focus remains strictly on scientific debates, psychological determinants, and formal research reports.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Schmeidler’s collection is a rigorous examination of the internal factors influencing extrasensory perception, making it a serious contribution to the field. However, it does not suit casual readers looking for thrilling ghost stories or definitive proof of the supernatural. Skeptics who prefer absolute dismissal over nuanced debate may find the proponent essays frustrating, while those seeking practical ESP training will be disappointed by its theoretical focus. It is best for academic-minded enthusiasts who appreciate the complexity of psychological controversies and wish to understand how critics' questions mirror broader challenges within psychology itself.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a substantive, non-sensationalist approach to psychic phenomena will find this volume invaluable. It is ideal for those tired of superficial claims who want to understand the psychological mechanisms that allow some minds to glimpse the unseen while others cannot. By presenting a direct debate between skeptics and proponents, it offers a balanced overview of contemporary ESP research. This book serves anyone interested in the intersection of consciousness studies and psychology, providing clarity on why psychic abilities manifest inconsistently without resorting to blind faith or dismissive cynicism.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you've ever wondered why psychic gifts seem so elusive, or if you seek a rigorous, balanced examination of extrasensory perception, this book is for you. It's essential reading for those interested in the scientific exploration of consciousness and the mind's hidden depths.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Schmeidler’s collection is a rigorous examination of the internal factors influencing extrasensory perception, making it a serious contribution to the field. However, it does not suit casual readers looking for thrilling ghost stories or definitive proof of the supernatural. Skeptics who prefer absolute dismissal over nuanced debate may find the proponent essays frustrating, while those seeking practical ESP training will be disappointed by its theoretical focus. It is best for academic-minded enthusiasts who appreciate the complexity of psychological controversies and wish to understand how critics' questions mirror broader challenges within psychology itself.

❓ Frequently asked questions

This book argues that psychological factors—like beliefs, mood, and even personality—play a significant role in one's ability to manifest or perceive ESP, explaining inconsistencies better than mere absence.

While it presents research exploring ESP, its primary focus is on understanding the psychological conditions influencing its manifestation and the academic debate surrounding its scientific study, rather than offering definitive proof.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Mind's Influence on ESP

This volume meticulously examines the internal psychological conditions that either foster or hinder the expression of extrasensory abilities. It investigates how various mental states, beliefs, and even personality traits might modulate an individual's success or failure in psychic tasks, shifting the focus from mere existence to the 'how' and 'why' of its manifestation.

Debating Psychic Phenomena

Central to the book is an exploration of the ongoing academic and scientific dispute surrounding extrasensory perception. Featuring direct exchanges between prominent critics and proponents, it provides an unfiltered look into the tensions and arguments that define the field, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of both sides of the complex debate.

Advances in Parapsychological Research

The essays showcase the methodologies and findings of early parapsychological investigations, offering a snapshot of the scientific efforts to quantify and understand psychic abilities. It illuminates the challenges inherent in studying such elusive phenomena, while also celebrating the persistent drive to uncover empirical evidence of the mind's non-physical capacities.

📜 Historical context

Published during a period of intense scientific scrutiny and public fascination with psychic abilities, this work stands as a pivotal document in parapsychology. It captures the spirit of an era when researchers earnestly applied empirical methods to phenomena often relegated to superstition, shaping the academic discourse on ESP's validity and mechanisms.

📚 Glossary

Extrasensory Perception (ESP)
Parapsychology
Clairvoyance

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might your personal beliefs or skepticism about ESP influence your own potential for psychic experiences?
Consider the ethical implications of studying and potentially harnessing extrasensory abilities. What safeguards would be necessary?
In what ways do the debates surrounding ESP mirror broader tensions between established science and novel, unconventional phenomena?