Psychokinesis
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Psychokinesis (< Greek ψύχο- + κίνησις, literally "mind-movement") or PK, also known as telekinesis<ref> Encyclopedia Britannica online: psychokinesis. Retrieved on July 16, 2006.</ref> (< Greek τῆλε + κίνησις, literally "distant-movement") or TK, is defined according to the Online Medical Dictionary<ref> On-Line Medical Dictionary: psychokinesis. Retrieved on July 16, 2006.</ref>, published by the Department of Oncology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, as the following (used with permission): "the influence of mind upon matter, as the use of mental 'power' to move or distort an object." Psychokinesis may also be described by other names, such as remote influencing, distant influencing, remote mental influence, distant mental influence, and directed conscious intention.
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[edit] Origin
The term telekinesis was coined in 1890<ref> (2003) Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Springfield, Massachusetts, USA: Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. ISBN 0-87779-809-5.</ref> by British psychical researcher Frederic William Henry Myers<ref> Berger, Arthur S., Berger, Joyce (1991). The Encyclopedia of Parapsychological and Psychical Research. New York: Paragon House. ISBN 1-55778-043-9.</ref> (1843-1901), who was one of the founders of the Society for Psychical Research, located in England. Myers also coined the term telepathy<ref> Berger, Arthur S., Berger, Joyce (1991). The Encyclopedia of Parapsychological and Psychical Research. New York: Paragon House. ISBN 1-55778-043-9.</ref>
The term psychokinesis was coined in 1914<ref> (2003) Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Springfield, Massachusetts, USA: Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. ISBN 0-87779-809-5.</ref> by American author-publisher Henry Holt<ref> Parapsychology Foundation "Basic terms in Parapsychology" (Holt's books are available today as facimile reprints at online booksellers). Retrieved on July 16, 2006.</ref> and adopted by his friend, American parapsychologist J. B. Rhine.<ref> Parapsychological Association - Glossary. Retrieved on July 19, 2006.</ref>
[edit] Grammatical forms
psychokinesis: psychokinetic (adjective or noun, a person), psychokinetically (adverb), psychokineticist (noun; rare), PK, PKer.
telekinesis: telekinetic (adjective or noun, a person), telekinetically (adverb), telekineticist (noun; rare), TK, TKer.
[edit] Measurement and observation
Currently researchers describe two basic types of measurable and observable psychokinetic and telekinetic effects in experimental laboratory research and in case reports occurring outside of the laboratory.<ref> Library.ThinkQuest.org - Glossary: Macro PK and Micro PK. Retrieved on October 14, 2006.</ref> <ref> Berger, Arthur S., Berger, Joyce (1991). The Encyclopedia of Parapsychological and Psychical Research. New York: Paragon House. ISBN 1-55778-043-9.</ref> <ref> Broughton, Richard S. (1991). Parapsychology: The Controversial Science. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-35638-1.</ref>
micro-PK or micro-TK - A very small effect; cannot be observed directly. Manipulation of molecules, atoms, subatomic particles, etc. Scientific equipment is required for measuring or viewing.
macro-PK or macro-TK - A large-scale effect seen with the unaided eye; clearly observed movement or physical change of an object. Sometimes the word "gross" is used, as in "gross movement of an object."
[edit] Notable claimants of psychokinesis or telekinesis
("Claimant" simply means anyone who claims to possess PK/TK powers. Such claims are often disputed).
[edit] Uri Geller
- Uri Geller, the Israeli famous for his spoon-bending demonstrations, allegedly by PK.<ref>
Berger, Arthur S., Berger, Joyce (1991). The Encyclopedia of Parapsychological and Psychical Research. New York: Paragon House. ISBN 1-55778-043-9.</ref>
[edit] Nina Kulagina
- Nina Kulagina, alleged Soviet psychic of the late 1960s and early 1970s.<ref>
Berger, Arthur S., Berger, Joyce (1991). The Encyclopedia of Parapsychological and Psychical Research. New York: Paragon House. ISBN 1-55778-043-9.</ref>
[edit] Belief in telekinesis
In September 2006, a survey was published<ref>http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/33304.pdf</ref> by the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University, of Waco, Texas, in the United States. It was conducted by phone and mail-in questionnaire the Gallup Organization between October 8, 2005 and December 12, 2005 on behalf of the university. Among its 77 questions and 350 possible answers, one section polled Americans on their belief in various paranormal topics. One of the questions in this section surveyed belief in telekinesis. The word "telekinesis" was specifically used in the subsequent published report, but it did not appear on the printed questionnaire version that was filled out and mailed in by participants. However, those questioned knew they were responding to questions about paranormal beliefs. There were 1,721 participants with a margin of error of plus or minus four percent. Of these participants 28 percent of male participants selected "agree" or "strongly agree" with the statement It is possible to influence the world through the mind alone, as did 31 percent of female participants. The results of other possible answers -- "undecided," "disagree," and "strongly disagree" -- were not made available in the published report.
[edit] Cultural references
- H. G. Wells' 1911 story, The Man Who Could Work Miracles, and the 1936 movie of the same title based on it<ref>The Man Who Could Work Miracles at the Internet Movie Database</ref>, portrays a character with psychokinetic powers (although the word is not used). Arguing in a bar, the character tries to make a hypothetical point by saying "to that lamp, as I might do, collecting all my will, 'Turn upsy-down without breaking, and go on burning steady, and--Hullo!'" Wells writes, "The impossible, the incredible, was visible to them all. The lamp hung inverted in the air, burning quietly with its flame pointing down." The protagonist goes on to make increasingly dramatic demonstrations of his power, ultimately stopping the earth's rotation.<ref>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Country of the Blind, And Other Stories, by H. G. Wells, available freely at Project Gutenberg</ref>
- In the 1976 film Carrie, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, Sissy Spacek portrays a troubled high school student with telekinetic powers. <ref>
Official website of author Stephen King.. Retrieved on July 15, 2006.</ref> Director Brian de Palma noted that the film is "basically about adolescent trauma. Her telekinesis is an extension of her anger."<ref>Jones, Stephen (2002). Creepshows: The Illustrated Stephen King Movie Guide. Watson-Guptill. ISBN 0-8230-7884-1., p. 1957</ref> Spacek was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal. Co-star Piper Laurie was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
- In the Star Wars movie series, numerous characters have the ability to control the movement of objects using the Force. In the book Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide<ref>
Windham, Ryder (2005). Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide. DK Publishing, Inc.. ISBN 0-7566-1420-1.</ref> it is described this way: "Although such ability is commonly known as a Jedi's 'object movement' power, it is more accurately described as a manipulation of the Force—the energy field that surrounds and binds everything—to control the direction of objects through space. Jedi utilize this talent not only to push, pull, and lift objects, but also to redirect projectiles and guide their starships through combat."
- In the X-Men movie series, the female character Jean Grey, also known as Phoenix, based on the Marvel comic book character, has very strong telekinetic powers.<ref>
Sanderson, Peter (2006). X-Men: The Ultimate Guide. DK Publishing, Inc.. ISBN 0-7566-2005-8.</ref> In the movies she was played by actress Famke Janssen.
- Actress Ellen Burstyn played a woman with miraculous paranormal healing powers named Edna Mae McCauley in the 1980 film Resurrection<ref>Resurrection at the Internet Movie Database</ref> set in rural America. She was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal. Co-star Eva Le Gallienne was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. In her 2006 autobiography, Burstein writes at length about the making of the movie and reaction to it, "I still have people approach me on the street and tell me how important the film was in their lives... Some people have told me that they stopped denying their psychic abilities after seeing the film and actually developed them instead of hiding them for fear they'd be thought weird. Some people, many in fact, told me they went into the healing profession because of the film. And others told me about feeling healed by the film."<ref>
Burstein, Ellen (2006). Lessons in Becoming Myself. New York: Riverhead Books/Penguin Group. ISBN 1-59448-929-7.</ref>
- In the TV series Charmed, telekinesis was featured frequently. Prue Halliwell, one of the three protagonists up until season 3, possessed this ability. The ability runs through several members of the Halliwell family line, including Penny "Grams" Halliwell, Wyatt Halliwell, Chris Halliwell and Paige Matthews, whose Whitelighter genes cause the power to manifest as telekinetic-orbing. In season 8, the character Billie Jenkins was also shown to possess this skill. It was also used by several other witches, warlocks, demons and other magical beings featured throughout the run of the show.<ref>
Gallagher, Diana G., Ruditid, Paul (2004). Charmed: The Book of Three. The Official Companion to the Hit Show.. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-689-86709-3.</ref>
[edit] Quotes
- "How many people here have telekinetic powers? Raise my hand."
Origin: attributed to American stand-up comedian Emo Philips as a one-liner used in his stage act. It can be found on his CD album "E=MO2" first released in 1990. There is also a subsequent derivative saying "Everyone who believes in telekinesis, raise my hand." This is often incorrectly attributed to James Randi, but he has stated that he did not originate it. However, he did use it in the closing line of his weekly commentary Swift, 15 March 2002.<ref>http://www.randi.org/jr/031502.html</ref>. A similar saying, "How many of you believe in telekinesis, raise MY hands" was used by Rob Fargher as a signature line on one of his 1994 skeptics newsgroup postings<ref>http://www.skepticfiles.org/evolut/theoryon.htm</ref>.
- "mind over matter" — Sir Charles Lyell (1797-1875)
Origin: 1863 in The Geological Evidence of the Antiquity of Man.<ref> Bartlett, John, Kaplan, Justin, Editor (2002). Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, Seventeenth Edition. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0-316-08460-3.</ref> Fuller quote: "It may be said that, so far from having a materialistic tendency, the supposed introduction into the earth at successive geological periods of life—sensation, instinct, the intelligence of the higher mammalia bordering on reason, and lastly, the improvable reason of Man himself—presents us with a picture of the ever-increasing dominion of mind over matter." There is also a similar saying coined centuries earlier (19 BCE) "the mind moves matter" by the poet Virgil in his work "Aeneid," book 6, line 727.<ref> Stevenson, Burton (Editor) (1948, seventh printing 1968). The Macmillan Book of Proverbs, Maxims, and Famous Phrases. New York: The Macmillan Company.</ref> The latter saying in Latin, "mens agitat molem," is the official motto of the Eindhoven University of Technology in The Netherlands.
- "a talent that has to be seen to be believed" — Rod Serling (1924-1975)
Origin: March 24, 1961 in the introduction written by Serling to the Twilight Zone episode The Prime Mover about a telekinetic character played by actor Buddy Ebsen. The episode itself was written by Charles Beaumont. Fuller quote by Serling, after stepping out of a woodland scene and standing in front of the camera: "Portrait of a man who thinks and thereby gets things done. Mr. Jimbo Cobb might be called a 'Prime Mover,' a talent that has to be seen to be believed. In just a moment, he'll show his friend, and you, how he keeps both feet on the ground and his head, in the Twilight Zone."
[edit] See also
(the following related entries are listed alphabetically)
[edit] References
<references/>
[edit] Further reading
- The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena, Dean Radin, HarperEdge, 1997.
- Mind Over Matter, Loyd Auerbach, Kensington Books, 1996. ISBN 1-57566-047-4.
- Distant Mental Influence, William Braud, Hampton Roads Publishing, Inc., 2003. ISBN 1-57174-354-5. (largely a collection of published scientific research papers on formal experiments in psychokinesis conducted by the author with others between 1983 to 2000).
- Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality, Dean Radin, Pocket Books, 2006.
- Flim Flam!, James Randi, Prometheus Books, 1982, ISBN 0-89775-198-3.
[edit] Published Scientific Papers on PK / TK
- Can Our Intentions Interact Directly with the Physical World? (.pdf file) by William G. Braud, European Journal of Parapsychology, Vol. 10, 1994.
- Does Psi Exist and Can We prove It: Belief and Disbelief in Psychokinesis Research (.pdf file) by Eckhard Etzold, presented at the Parapsychological Association Convention 2004.
- Material Deformation by Intention (.pdf file) by Jack Houck, presented at the Science of Whole Person Healing Conference, March 28, 2003.
- The Paranormal is not Excluded from Physics (.pdf file) by O. Costa de Beauregard, Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 12, No. 2, 1998.
- The Strange Properties of Psychokinesis (.html file) by Helmut Schmidt, Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 1, No. 2, 1987.
[edit] Online Resources for Published Academic Articles and Scientific Papers on PK / TK
(do searches for "psychokinesis," "telekinesis," "conscious intention," etc.)
- http://scholar.google.com Google's search engine for scholarly literature.
- http://www.pubmed.gov In the United States, a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
- http://academic.live.com Windows Live Academic by the Microsoft Corporation. Search academic journals.
[edit] External links
[edit] General information
- The Skeptic's Dictionary: "Psychokinesis" A skeptical commentary article on psychokinesis.
- Princeton's PEAR laboratory closing spring 2007, Princeton Alumni Weekly November 8, 2006: Notebook.
- Online Telekinesis Test
[edit] Major organizations and research centers in the PK / TK field
- American Society for Psychical Research (New York City, USA)
- Parapsychological Association (Petaluma, California, USA)
- Parapsychology Foundation (New York City, USA)
- Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR) (Princeton, New Jersey, USA)
- The Rhine Research Center (Durham, North Carolina, USA)
- Society for Psychical Research (London, UK)
[edit] Prize money offered for scientific proof of PK / TK
- http://www.aske-skeptics.org.uk/AwardList.html Worldwide list maintained by the Association for Skeptical Enquiry, in the United Kingdom. Over US $2.4 million dollars offered in various skeptics' challenges, including those below.
- James Randi Educational Foundation "One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge" US $1,000,000.
- North Texas Skeptics Paranormal Challenge US $12,000.
- Indian Skeptic 100,000 Paranormal Challenge Indian Rupees 100,000 (just over US $1,200).
- Tampa Bay Skeptics $1,000 Challenge US $1,000.bg:Телекинеза
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