SPIRIT IN THE PSYCHOLOGY
With over 30 years of experience in the field of parapsychology, Dr O’Keeffe is a leading expert in investigating the paranormal. Now the Associate Head of School for Human & Social Sciences at Bucks New University, Dr O’Keeffe has authored several books on the topic of paranormal investigation and has appeared on TV’s Most Haunted.
How would you define parapsychology?
Parapsychology is very broad, but the definition would be the scientific research into paranormal phenomena. The problem with that definition is it sounds like it encompasses all paranormal phenomena, so everything from the Loch Ness Monster to alien abduction and ghosts. This is not strictly the case.
Parapsychology is fundamentally interested in studying extrasensory perception (ESP), which covers three areas: telepathy, clairvoyance and precognition; psychokinesis, which is the action of the mind on an object – the classic example is Uri Geller and his spoon bending; and then the third area is after-death communication or survival after death.
This is my area of expertise, and in the world today I would estimate that there’s around 100 or so actual parapsychologists qualified to doctorate level, and out
