Does human consciousness survive death? Can it manifest itself to the living? And can science study alleged paranormal phenomena? In Apparitions, Hauntings and Poltergeists, Dr Robert Young provides an accessible and informative introduction to the science of Parapsychology, drawing on years of study and first-hand experience as an investigator of paranormal phenomena. This book makes public the case files of The British Ghost Society, an organisation founded and led by Dr Young which has conducted investigations at many of Britain's allegedly haunted buildings, with dramatic and thought-provoking results. Alongside case studies of classic cases of haunting, apparitions and poltergeist phenomena, Dr Young reveals the true stories behind famous ghost movies, from The Exorcist to The Conjuring, and asks: are paranormal phenomena really evidence of disembodied souls, or are they manifestations of as yet unexplained powers of the human mind itself?

Skeletal remains rotting behind cellar walls, temple priests removing brains with iron hooks, phantom locomotives roaring across midnight plains—Brian Righi isn't making this stuff up. The ghost stories he finds in history are far more chilling than any Hollywood horror scene. Join the seasoned paranormal investigator on a tour through mankind's millennium-old obsession with death and the afterlife. Ghosts, Apparitions and Poltergeists surveys 4,000 years of hauntings and ghost huntings—from the embalming rituals of ancient Egypt to the Ouija boards and séances of nineteenth century Spiritualism—highlighting a few outlandish tales and colorful characters along the way. Once you've learned the history, launch a paranormal investigation of your own with Righi's guide to modern ghost hunting, full of detailed advice culled from his seven years of experience in the field.

Does human consciousness survive death? Can it manifest itself to the living? And can science study alleged paranormal phenomena? In Apparitions, Hauntings and Poltergeists, Dr Robert Young provides an accessible and informative introduction to the science of Parapsychology, drawing on years of study and first-hand experience as an investigator of paranormal phenomena. This book makes public the case files of The British Ghost Society, an organisation founded and led by Dr Young which has conducted investigations at many of Britain's allegedly haunted buildings, with dramatic and thought-provoking results. Alongside case studies of classic cases of haunting, apparitions and poltergeist phenomena, Dr Young reveals the true stories behind famous ghost movies, from The Exorcist to The Conjuring, and asks: are paranormal phenomena really evidence of disembodied souls, or are they manifestations of as yet unexplained powers of the human mind itself?

Ghosts traces the cultural and literary origins of the paranormal, reveals the secrets behind many mysterious myths and legends, and analyzes our continued fascination with visitors from the other side. With chapters on the origins of ghosts, poltergeists, ghosts from around the world, exorcism, haunted houses, and more, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat. Belief in ghosts is nothing new. Uncertainty surrounding death is part of the human condition and the existence of an afterlife is deeply rooted in most worldwide cultures and religions. In Taoism and Buddhism, the Hungry Ghost Festival celebrates the belief that, once a year, ghosts and spirits are released from the afterlife and walk among the living. In the west, ghost stories were established in ancient folklore and tend to embrace the same classic themes as today's horror movies: romance, tragedy, and terror. Writers of antiquity used ghosts and hauntings as a way to provide background information or foretell coming events, and Shakespeare, the father of English literature, used the same techniques in his plays. Glamis Castle, the infamous haunted Scottish setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth, is said to be on of the most nerve-wracking places on earth—but are these feelings imagined or real? At one time or another, most people have experienced a creepy, spine tingling, someone's watching you sort of sensation that they can't explain. Scientists may try to account for these fears by attributing them to the natural fear of the unknown. Cold spots are nothing more than an open window and creaking floorboards are nothing more than old wood shifting in place. Regardless, millions of people believe that there is much more to these strange phenomenons than can be explained by modern science. And really, who can say that they're wrong? Be informed, entertained, and frightened by this comprehensive volume about "the other side."

Few people can claim the distinction of experiencing first-hand such occurrences as hauntings and the presence of poltergeists, but countless numbers of people are fascinated by these unexplainable events. Written by the world's most knowledgeable authorities in this field, the essays in this work promote a better understanding of the manifestations of and various reasons for hauntings and poltergeist phenomena. The experts come from such backgrounds as anthropology, history, philosophy, psychiatry, and sociology, and provide sober yet highly readable in-depth discussions of numerous ideas and rationalizations for hauntings and poltergeists, from a critical and scientific perspective. Divided into three major sections--sociocultural, physical and physiological, and psychological perspectives--this work provides an overview of each perspective and also addresses the general psychology of belief in the paranormal and how that belief relates to experiences with ghosts and poltergeists.

Poltergeists like causing havoc. They throw things around in people's homes and play tricks with lights and household appliances. Mysterious voices, insistent knocking and weird shrieking can announce their presence, or sometimes it's peculiar smells with no apparent source (the whiff of pipe tobacco or lingering perfumes from another age). One day you might even see a poltergeist as it turns into a full-bodied apparition before your eyes. But beware, poltergeists can pinch, slap and sexually assault the living. An attack by a poltergeist can be among the most terrifying experiences that any human is likely to encounter. This book is an exploration of the phenomenon from earliest times to the present day, highlighting the activities of these phantoms, the efforts of researchers to document and understand what is going on as well as the explanations that have been put forward.

Apparitions represent a rich collection of phenomena. They have been seen personifying the forms of the living and of the dead, at the exact time of the agent's death and often a considerable time after. This essay, chapter 16 of Psyhic Exploration, explores apparitions, haunting, and poltergeists. The full volume of Psychic Exploration can be purchased as an ebook or paperback version from all major online retailers and at cosimobooks.com.