Haunting
Location-based hauntings have been relatively little studied by parapsychologists, but the frequent incidence of apparitional episodes (the appearance of a deceased family member) attracted the attention of early researchers. Much interest has also centred on so-called ‘poltergeist’ episodes, of powerful domestic disturbances now often attributed to involuntary psychokinetic effects by living agents.
Amityville Hoax
Alleged 1970s haunting in Long Island, New York, which became the basis for sensationalist books and films.
Andover Poltergeist
Poltergeist disturbances observed and documented in a household in Andover, southern England, in 1974.
Reciprocal Apparitions
Reciprocal apparitions are experienced in out-of-body states at the same time they are perceived.
Baldoon Mystery
A series of poltergeist disturbances that occurred in 1829 in Ontario, Canada, were the subject of 26 eye-witness reports published at the time.
Beaulieu Abbey
Ghostly sightings have frequently been reported in a ruined Cisterican abbey in the town of Beaulieu, Hampshire.
Borley Rectory
Until its destruction by fire in 1939, Borley Rectory was the focus of persistent claims of poltergeist disturbances and haunting phenomena.
Cheltenham Ghost
An 1892 report described frequent sightings by multiple witnesses of an apparitional figure, a woman dressed in black.
Cideville Poltergeist
Mid-nineteenth century French poltergeist case, with testimonies given in court about the phenomena.
Cock Lane Ghost
Notorious 1762 haunting episode, in which disturbances in a London house became the cause of heated public controversy.
Theories About Collective Apparitions
Apparitions perceived by more than one person provide some theoretical challenges.
Angelique Cottin
French girl who in 1846, aged fourteen, was the centre of psychokinetic disturbances that made an international sensation.
Eleonore Zugun (Talpa Poltergeist)
Adolescent Romanian girl (1913–1991), the centre of a well-documented 1920s poltergeist-type episode.
Enfield Poltergeist
Celebrated 1970s case in a north London suburb, in which poltergeist disturbances were documented over a two-year period.
Ghost Hunting
'Ghost hunting’ is a popular term for the investigation of claims of site-based phenomena, such as apparitions and poltergeists.
Why Do Ghosts Wear Clothes?
Sceptics use the fact that apparitions appear fully clad as reason to doubt them. This article discusses why they might.
Ghosts and Apparitions in Psi Research (Overview)
Types of ghostly phenomena, methods of research and theories of causation.
Hornby Apparition
This late 19th century case was discredited by discrepancies in the original account but an alternative interpretation has been advanced.
Infrasound
Infrasound (audio frequencies below normal human hearing) has been suggested as the cause of paranormal-seeming effects.
Miami Poltergeist
1960s episode in which Florida-themed souvenir items were seen repeatedly falling from warehouse shelves without apparent cause.
Podmore’s ‘Apparitions and Thought-Transference’
Argues that apparitions may be explained through telepathy.
Poltergeists (Overview)
This article provides an introduction to poltergeist research, describing major cases and theoretical perspectives.
Psychological Aspects of Poltergeist Cases
Reasons to think that most poltergeist disturbances have living rather than deceased agents.
Sauchie Poltergeist
Poltergeist disturbances in a Scottish village in 1960, in which activity appeared to centre on an 11-year-old girl.
Seaford Poltergeist
Episode of poltergeist-type disturbances in 1958 in Seaford, Long Island, New York, centering on a 12-year-old boy.
Stans (Switzerland) Poltergeist
Mid-19 century poltergeist case, in which disturbances tormented a Swiss family for weeks.
Drummer of Tedworth
Poltergeist case investigated by Joseph Glanvill (1636–1680), one of the first to receive serious scrutiny.
Tina Resch (Columbus Poltergeist)
Focus of poltergeist-type phenomena at her home in Columbus, Ohio, in 1984,
Versailles ‘Time-Slip’
A 'timeslip' experience in the gardens of Versailles, described by two Englishwomen in their 1911 book An Adventure.
Vienna Workshop Poltergeist
A Viennese member of the Society for Psychical Research describes poltergeist distrurbances he witnessed.
Wilmot Apparition
19th century case in which a woman felt herself go out-of-body to her husband's ship, where she was perceived by him and another person.
Worksop Poltergeist
Original report by an SPR investigator of poltergeist-type disturbances in 1883 in Worksop, in the north of England.