Extrasensory Perception by Schmeidler, Gertrude

Occult Philosophy

Extrasensory Perception

Name: Extrasensory Perception
Price: 200.00 USD
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Rating: 4.6 (2 reviews)
Author: Schmeidler, Gertrude
ISBN: 9781138523302

Schmeidler, Gertrude

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4.6

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Uncover the hidden psychological currents that unlock or impede psychic ability.

This compelling collection delves into why extrasensory perception remains elusive for many, despite its purported universality. Schmeidler's edited volume explores the psychological underpinnings dictating success or failure in ESP tests, moving beyond mere anecdote. Through insightful essays, including a direct debate between skeptics and proponents, the book offers a clear panorama of the research landscape. It meticulously examines intricate factors influencing parapsychological studies, providing a nuanced understanding of the ongoing controversy and its deeper implications for psychological inquiry.

Key themes

The ESP Debate Research Challenges

Historical context

This volume sits at the intersection of mid-to-late twentieth-century parapsychological research and academic psychology, reflecting an era where esoteric phenomena were increasingly subjected to rigorous scholarly scrutiny rather than dismissed solely as folklore.

Schmeidler, Gertrude

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🕯️ Occult Philosophy

🏛 Routledge 📅 2017 📖 176 pages 📔 Hardcover 📐 Hardcover ISBN: 9781138523302

Fun fact

Schmeidler's Extrasensory Perception stands as a seminal work for those seeking an academic, balanced look at parapsychology. It excels at dissecting the psychological elements influencing ESP and presenting the field's core controversies with intellectual rigor. While it will richly reward serious students and researchers, those expecting simple answers or practical psychic development techniques will be disappointed. It remains a cornerstone for understanding anomalous cognition.

📝 Description: Extrasensory Perception

If extrasensory perception is a common human ability, why can't we all score high on ESP tests? This book answers the question by describing psychological determinants of success and failure in extrasensory perception. Some of the most signifi cant points raised in the editor's enlightening introduction are developed in greater detail in the nine essays that follow, all of them important statements giving a clear picture of research into ESP and the debate that surrounds it. Each essay is followed by a comment relating the essay to the field as a whole. In essays on the debate about ESP, an attack (by C. E. M. Hansel) is followed by a rebuttal (by J. B. Rhine and J. G. Pratt), offering the reader insight into the peculiar tension surrounding the ESP controversy. The book also includes a balanced overview of problems in the field by J. C. Crumbaugh, and six other essays on the psychological factors that influence research on ESP. Controversy over ESP is of special interest also because the questions critics raise relate closely to problems within psychology itself. In addition, the essays reflect a quality common to much research: the excitement of uncovering results that advance our knowledge. This book is intended for supplementary course use. Because of the fundamental problems it addresses, it also offers richly rewarding reading for all teaching and practicing psychologists as well as for the interested generalist. A substantial number of research reports are cited throughout, so that any reader seeking further information will find the cited references invaluable.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Gertrude Schmeidler’s edited collection provides a sophisticated look at the psychological mechanics behind extrasensory perception, avoiding the trap of mere anecdote for rigorous analysis. While it successfully maps the controversial research landscape and highlights intricate influencing factors, it is not suited for readers seeking straightforward validation of psychic powers or those who prefer mystical over analytical explanations. Skeptics may find the inclusion of proponent arguments tedious, while casual enthusiasts might struggle with the dense academic tone. However, for scholars and serious researchers interested in the psychological currents dictating success or failure in ESP tests, this work offers a compelling, albeit demanding, resource that demands critical engagement.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book serves as an essential bridge for the intellectually curious reader who seeks to understand extrasensory perception not through mystical dogma, but through the lens of psychological inquiry and empirical debate. It is particularly valuable for those who feel frustrated by the lack of consensus in parapsychology and wish to explore the specific mental factors that either facilitate or obstruct psychic ability. By presenting a balanced panorama of research alongside direct skeptic-proponent debates, it offers a nuanced understanding of why ESP remains elusive despite its purported universality. Readers seeking a clear, non-anecdotal examination of the psychological underpinnings of these phenomena will find this collection both clarifying and deeply engaging.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're a serious inquirer into psychic phenomena, seeking a rigorous, academically grounded perspective beyond sensationalism, this collection is for you. It offers invaluable insights for anyone keen to understand nuanced scientific attempts to unravel ESP's mysteries.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Gertrude Schmeidler’s edited collection provides a sophisticated look at the psychological mechanics behind extrasensory perception, avoiding the trap of mere anecdote for rigorous analysis. While it successfully maps the controversial research landscape and highlights intricate influencing factors, it is not suited for readers seeking straightforward validation of psychic powers or those who prefer mystical over analytical explanations. Skeptics may find the inclusion of proponent arguments tedious, while casual enthusiasts might struggle with the dense academic tone. However, for scholars and serious researchers interested in the psychological currents dictating success or failure in ESP tests, this work offers a compelling, albeit demanding, resource that demands critical engagement.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Rather than taking a definitive stance, the book provides a balanced examination of both the arguments for and against ESP, presenting both skeptical critiques and proponents' rebuttals to offer a comprehensive view of the ongoing debate.

This volume is an academic exploration of the scientific investigation into ESP, focusing on psychological factors and research challenges. It is not a practical guide for developing personal psychic powers.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

The ESP Debate

The book offers a unique, front-row seat to the intellectual battleground surrounding parapsychology. By juxtaposing critical attacks with vigorous rebuttals from leading figures, it illuminates the intense scientific skepticism and the rigorous defenses mounted by researchers, showcasing the peculiar tension inherent in this contentious field.

Research Challenges

Schmeidler's collection critically examines the methodological hurdles and inherent biases encountered when attempting to scientifically quantify and replicate extrasensory phenomena. It highlights how the very nature of psychological research often intertwines with the questions raised by ESP critics, pushing the boundaries of scientific inquiry.

💬 Quotes from the book

“The critical factor in experimental success or failure often resides not in the subject's inherent 'gift,' but in the subtle, often unconscious, psychological attitudes and environmental conditions at play.”

“The most illuminating discussions regarding anomalous phenomena arise when rigorous challenge meets thoughtful defense, forcing both sides to refine their methodologies and clarify their conceptual frameworks.”

📜 Historical context

Appearing at a time of fervent debate surrounding parapsychology, this book contributes significantly to the mid-20th century efforts to legitimize ESP research within academic psychology. It reflects the era's struggle to apply scientific rigor to anomalous experiences, bridging the gap between anecdotal accounts and empirical investigation, thereby shaping the nascent field of parapsychological study.

📚 Glossary

Extrasensory Perception (ESP)
Clairvoyance
Precognition

📔 Questions to reflect on

Reflect on a time you might have experienced something akin to ESP. How did your psychological state or expectations at that moment influence your perception of the event?
Considering the debates presented, what do you believe are the greatest challenges in proving or disproving psychic phenomena scientifically?
How might the findings about psychological determinants of ESP success inform broader psychological theories about consciousness or perception?