Pop Parapsychology

[DaveWood]

What are people's views on these online parapsychology courses?

What is the effect when people call themselves parapsychologists, to promote themselves to the vulnerable, as a result?

Has anyone seen any materials from these courses?

[Admin]

Any examples Dave?

My view is that for anyone to be a legitimate parapsychologist they first need to be a psychologist.

I'm sure that there are plenty of amateurs who do great work (and plenty who don't) but they shouldn't be calling themselves parapsychologists.

It would be interesting to see just what these courses cover.

[Nicky]

I've lost count of the amount of 'investigation group' websites who have their own 'parapsychologist' and when you google said psych's name, nothing ever comes up. You contact the group to seek their psych's credentials and 99% of the time they cite online 12hr/wk/£/$200 courses. No degree, no MSc, no PhD.

I can go on about this until the end of time. >:(

[DaveWood]

Any examples Dave?

My view is that for anyone to be a legitimate parapsychologist they first need to be a psychologist.

I'm sure that there are plenty of amateurs who do great work (and plenty who don't) but they shouldn't be calling themselves parapsychologists.

It would be interesting to see just what these courses cover.

Yes I am of the same view. In fact a good rule of thumb is eligibility for membership of the PA:
http://www.parapsych.org/join_the_pa.html

To my mind a parapsycholigist should be trained first in psychology, as parapsychology should be considered something of a subdiscipline (despite a inter-disciplinary nature). Therefore the grounding should be in research methods, psychology and ethics first - and then acquisition of relevant knowledge.

By contrast, here is a sample Parapsychology course syllabus:
Introduction
Telepathy
Clairvoyance
Hypnosis & Sensory Awareness
Psychometry
Psychokinesis
Dermo-Optic Perception
Radiesthesia
The human aura
Spiritual healing
The Medium
Exam

[Nicky]

Here's another one:

Lesson 1 - An Introduction

Lesson 2 The Soul, Spirit and Reincarnation

Lesson 3 Meditation

Lesson 4 The Aura

Lesson 5 The Chakras

Lesson 6 Colors

Lesson 7 Crystals

Lesson 8 Numerology

Lesson 9 Automatic Writing, Dowsing and Tarot

Lesson 10 Angels, Spirit Guides and Psychic Ability

Lesson 11 Out Of Body Experiences, Astral Travel and Dreams

Lesson 12 Energy Healing and Vibrational Medicine.

Lesson 13 Aliens, UFO's and Crop Circles

Lesson 14 Ghosts and Hauntings

[Nicky]

And another:

PS212 - Parapsychologist Certification

Parapsychology is the scientific study of paranormal phenomena. The "paranormal" (literally "beyond the normal") refers to exceptional human experiences that do not seem to be explainable in terms of our everyday understanding or known scientific principles. Paranormal experiences often seem weird, uncanny, or unnatural, but are really part of a hidden part of nature of which we are not aware. Topics include: Extrasensory Perception; Telepathy; Clairvoyance and Clairaudience; Psychometry; Precognition and Premonitions; Remote Viewing; Channeling and Mediumship; Dowsing; Past Life Memories, Out of Body and Near Death experiences, and Psychokinesis. A complete deck of full-sized, xenon-coated Zener testing cards (shown at right) and scoresheets is included with the workbook. The class is taught by Dr. Alex Hayden, a widely respected researcher into PSI, which is the scientific term for the energy behind clairvoyance and psychokinesis. Tuition: $75.


Enroll now in the Parapsychologist Certification course and pay tuition of $75 online

[Admin]

By contrast, here is a sample Parapsychology course syllabus:

Introduction
Telepathy
Clairvoyance
Hypnosis & Sensory Awareness
Psychometry
Psychokinesis
Dermo-Optic Perception
Radiesthesia
The human aura
Spiritual healing
The Medium
Exam

That reminds me of the BT advert with Maureen Lipman - He's got an "ology"

I take it the depth of understanding is not too great then.

[Nicky]

It's just ... not going to 'qualify' you as a parapsychologist .. I know it's an unregulated field but these folks cannot hope to believe that they'll be taken seriously, surely?

Where's the scientific method? Where's research methods? Where's ethics? Where are the fundamental basics of psychology?

[Admin]

A complete deck of full-sized, xenon-coated Zener testing cards (shown at right) and scoresheets is included with the workbook.

Xenon coated? I don't think so.

The point is: do they teach how to set up a robust testing protocol and teach how to score and analyse the results? ???

Where's the scientific method? Where's research methods? Where's ethics? Where are the fundamental basics of psychology?

Who cares when you get a pack of Xenon-coated Zener cards?

Seriously though, that's the problem isn't it?

I suspect that such courses teach the subjects from a pro-paranormal point of view and leave out the scientific aspects of it.

[DaveWood]

They just seem to be courses in paranormal theory.

Which is fair enough in its own way. What worries me is that if people call themselves Parapsychologists they may be seen as a figure of undue authority to vulnerable people.

[Nicky]

And then people go around calling themselves parapsychologists ... People with haunting problems enlist the help of 'gists' - expecting a certain level of professionalism, ethical conduct and academic expertise, and instead get someone who's dome a 12hr course covering angels and crystals and wouldn't know an ethic if it slapped them around the face ... If only it would ...

[median]

I came across this t'other day. Seems apt to post the link here

http://www.scc.losrios.edu/~carrolb/phil322.html

Kind of thing that should be included, I think

[Susan]

Im currently doing an Open College Parapsychology Diploma course. I have up to a year to complete it. The areas Covered are:

Myths

Placebo Effect

Unconscious mind

Psychic frauds

About Astrology

Meditation

Dreams

Death experiences - OBE

Aliens - UFOs & abductions

Science

Probability and coincidence

Paranormal cognitions

Its accredited by the SFTR national Uk therapists register

Love susan x

[Admin]

Hi, Susan. And welcome.

Are you just starting the course?

It would be interesting to see how good (or bad) the teachings of the course are - if you're up for sharing the details of course.

[Nettles]

Is Open College like Open University?