Psychical << SY kuh kuhl >> research is the original name of a field of study that is now known as parapsychology. It involves the investigation and study of so-called psychical (mental) phenomena that are outside the field of normal psychology and the ordinary laws of behavior. Historically, psychical research focused on spiritualism (communication with the dead), the existence of ghosts, and fortunetelling. Modern interest is directed at extrasensory perception (ESP) and related phenomena. ESP is an awareness of something, such as another person’s thoughts, without the use of the senses of hearing, sight, smell, taste, or touch.
Throughout history, there have been many reports and claims of psychical phenomena. Some can be neither verified nor disproved. Psychical research can provide a basis for an assumption that psychical phenomena exist, or it can expose false or fraudulent claims. But most scientists believe that the existence of such phenomena has not been proven.
See also Extrasensory perception; Clairvoyance; Parapsychology; Spiritualism; Telepathy.
