Halloween season is here, and that means a spate of articles about ghostly phenomena will be materializing on our digital doorsteps. One of the first out of the pack, is a skeptically oriented piece by Jake Bittle from Popular Science that posits seven "mental and physical factors" as to why we see ghosts. While none of the factors point to an actual supernatural entity or genuine communication from the beyond, they are interesting to consider, and undoubtedly account for some reports. Here are some of the highlights:
- The need to believe: The suggestibility of the human mind and belief play into sightings. "Believers are a lot more likely to report anomalous sensations, and...to conclude that those sensations indicate a ghostly presence," explains "wet blanket" skeptic Chris French, a psychology professor at Goldsmiths College in London.
- Coping with trauma: One UK survey showed that those who'd lost a mate often had "after-death communication" with their deceased partner, and a 2011 paper suggested that these episodes provide "instantaneous relief from painful grief symptoms."
- Sleep paralysis: The odd hybrid state in which dream activity seems to co-mingle with being wide awake is associated with haunting or ghoulish visions and a hideous sense of entrapment.
- The 'fear frequency': Certain infrasound acoustics or electronic humming inaudible to human ears might cause us to sense a presence or feel panic.
View the full piece at Popular Science.