What is Anomalistic Psychology?

[Admin]

Well, who better to explain than Professor Chris French!

Anomalistic psychology may be defined as the study of extraordinary phenomena of behaviour and experience, including (but not restricted to) those which are often labeled "paranormal". It is directed towards understanding bizarre experiences that many people have without assuming a priori that there is anything paranormal involved. It entails attempting to explain paranormal and related beliefs and ostensibly paranormal experiences in terms of known psychological and physical factors.

http://www.gold.ac.uk/apru/what/

In essence, anomalistic psychology attempts to explain peculiar belief and experience (not necessarily paranormal belief) through what we know about psychology, neuroscience etc. In other words, it is a truly scientific approach to investigating such phenomena (building testable/falsifiable theories that are built upon previous scientific theory).

If any approach is likely to explain what paranormal-type experiences really are, then this approach (IMO) is it.

For more of an introduction to anomalous psychology, see Chris in The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/20...tical-thinking

[Stompy]

I'm teaching AnomPsy as part of the new A2 this year, so if anything interesting comes up (e.g. students' eyeballs melting when they find out their beliefs might require evidence above mere anecdote and comments like "Oh, but my mom's a psychic") I'll write about it here in an amusing and, no doubt, long-winded manner as I am already showing right now; I could stop but I haven't used up all my punctuation yet ,.:""!!??? there you go.

[Drop Bear]

Sounds fascinating.


Are these the kinds of things?:

(1) Deja vu. I have had this experience,but not recently

(2) When I was12, at the beach walking with a mate along the jetty.I suddenly had a very strong premonition and blurted out "someone is going to drown here today". Someone did, within an hour or so. That's why I remember.I should mention that drownings on suburban beaches in this state are rare.We go for years without one.( There are usually one or two each season in Sydney,but they tend to be gormless Brit or Asian tourists)

That feeling of premonition has never repeated itself. For many years I believed the experience was proof of precognition. Now I think there is almost certainly a simple psychological explanation.

(3) In my late 20's I solved a zen koan (riddle) which had been in my head for10 years. I was not thinking about it at the time.The answer just popped into my head.I then experienced what can only be described as an acutely heightened sense of awareness. The feeling lasted for about ten minutes,then faded,never to return. I have no doubt there is a simple explanation,but I don't know what.

[Dr B]

Yes there are many explanations for these types of experiences

[Drop Bear]

Yes there are many explanations for these types of experiences

Well, I see your flair for the bleedin' obvious and redundant observation are well developed.

Would you mind terribly giving me say one explanation for each? Thanks a fair bit.

[Dr B]

I already have - it is all over the Forum (and so have many others here). You need to make the effort to read it and apply it. Many of us have gone to great effort to cite papers, books, provide weblinks etc which speak directly to your interests.

I suspect you already have a good idea of the types of explanations anyway - you just need to make your reading more specific.

btw My observations are not redundant as they are fully correct.

[Rose]

Interesting. But who decides what are peculiar beliefs and experiences? One man's philosophical, scientific, or religious beliefs may well appear peculiar to another.

[brianp]

Interesting. But who decides what are peculiar beliefs and experiences? One man's philosophical, scientific, or religious beliefs may well appear peculiar to another.

Scientific "beliefs"!!!!! What the blazes are scientific beliefs? Science isn't a matter of opinion. It is a body of knowledge based on testable hypotheses and theories. One's opinion is immaterial - it's replication, prediction and testing which count.

[Rose]

brianp,

Keep your hat on (in your avatar. Get it? ) Okay forget science. Who decides what are peculiar beliefs and experiences? And I hope it's not you. I've only just arrived. I was dipping my toe in and you have scared the shit out of me. Do others reply to new posts like you do? I bet you're really a pussy cat. Annnyway, nice to meet you.

[brianp]

brianp,

Keep your hat on (in your avatar. Get it? ) Okay forget science. Who decides what are peculiar beliefs and experiences? And I hope it's not you. I've only just arrived. I was dipping my toe in and you have scared the shit out of me. Do others reply to new posts like you do? I bet you're really a pussy cat. Annnyway, nice to meet you.

What is covered is listed on the web page referred to be John:

http://www.gold.ac.uk/apru/what/

[Rose]

I didn’t necessarily mean on here. I meant in general, who among us is qualified to decide what is peculiar? Especially when what is peculiar to one person may not be peculiar to another. Some great thinkers in history were thought to be peculiar by some.

Thanks for the link. I’ll go check it out.

[Admin]

Interesting. But who decides what are peculiar beliefs and experiences?

Me.

I'll try to give an idea as to what is meant between anomalous experience, peculiarity, and psychopathology in the next day or two. I'm too busy to type it out at the moment.

You're right, it's all about definitions and they're not as concrete as perhaps we'd like but there is, at least some, systematic agreement as to what the categories are and how they relate.

Of course, 'categories' are notoriously difficult to define too so there's bound to be some fuzziness around the definitions.

[Drop Bear]

My observations are not redundant as they are fully correct.

I believe you.

'Redundant' means unnecessary or superfluous, not incorrect.

[Dr B]

I believe you.

'Redundant' means unnecessary or superfluous, not incorrect.

Of course, I am fully aware of that - but my comments undermine your petty point. However, the fact that it is correct does not make it unecessary - it adds crucial context and highlights the fact you cannot be bothered to read the extensive resource at your finger tips. . This is why it is not redundant.

You don't even have to leave your chair to start to get an insight on what you claim are your questions. Happy reading.

As I said earlier - yes psychology / neuroscience has some potential frameworks that can / could answer your questions.