Ghost hunting

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Ghosthunters (disambiguation).
"Paranormal investigation" and "paranormal investigator" redirect here. For othe
r uses, see paranormal.
"Ghost hunt" redirects here. For the light novel series and its adaptations, see
Ghost Hunt.
Ghost hunting is a fringe pseudoscience wherein its few adherents visit and inve
stigate locations that are reported to be haunted by ghosts. Typically, a ghost
hunting team will attempt to collect "evidence" that they see as supportive of p
aranormal activity. Ghost hunters often use a variety of electronic devices: the
EMF meter; digital thermometer; handheld and static digital video cameras, such
as thermographic (or infrared) and night vision; digital audio recorder; and co
mputer.
Traditional techniques such as conducting interviews and researching the history
of a site are also employed. Some ghost hunters refer to themselves as a parano
rmal investigator.[1] Ghost hunting has been heavily criticized for its total ab
sence of scientific method; no scientific body has been able to confirm the exis
tence of ghosts.[2][3] Ghost hunting is considered a pseudoscience by a vast maj
ority of educators, academics, science writers, and sceptics.[4][5][6][7][8][9][
10][11] In contrast, the concept of the ghost and narratives featuring ghosts ar
e a topic of academic study in folkloristics.
History[edit]
Paranormal research dates back to the 19th century, with organisations such as t
he Society for Psychical Research investigating spiritual matters. Psychic resea
rcher Harry Price published his Confessions of a Ghost-Hunter in 1936.[12]
Ghost hunting was popularised in the 2000s by television series such as Most Hau
nted and Ghost Hunters, combined with the increasing availability of high-tech e
quipment. The Atlantic Paranormal Society reported a doubling in their membershi
p in the late 2000s, attributing this to the television programs. Despite its la
ck of acceptance in academic circles, the popularity of ghost-hunting reality TV
shows has influenced a number of individuals to take up the pursuit.[13]
Small businesses offering ghost-hunting equipment and paranormal investigation s
ervices increased in the early 2000s. Many offer electromagnetic field (EMF) met
ers, infrared motion sensors and devices billed as "ghost detectors". The parano
rmal boom is such that some small ghost-hunting related businesses are enjoying
increased profits through podcast and web site advertising, books, DVDs, videos
and other commercial enterprises.[14]
One ghost-hunting group reports that the number of people taking its tours has t
ripled, jumping from about 600 in 2006 to 1,800 in 2008. Another says its member
ship has doubled. Others point to increased traffic on their websites and messag
e boards as an indication that ghost hunting is becoming more accepted. Particip
ants say that ghost hunting allows them to enjoy the friendship of like-minded p
eople and actively pursue their interest in the paranormal. James Willis, founde
r of The Ghosts of Ohio group, says that his membership has grown to 30 members
since it was founded in 1999 and includes both true believers and total skeptics
. Willis says his group is "looking for answers, one way or another" and that sk
epticism is a prerequisite for those who desire to be "taken seriously in this f
ield."[13]
Author John Potts says that the present day pursuit of "amateur ghost hunting" c
an be traced back to the Spiritualist era and early organizations founded to inv
estigate paranormal phenomena, like London's The Ghost Club and the Society for
Psychical Research, but that it is unrelated to academic parapsychology. Potts w

rites that modern ghost hunting groups ignore the scientific method and instead
follow a form of "techno-mysticism".[11]
The popularity of ghost hunting has led to some injuries. Unaware that a "spooky
home" in Worthington, Ohio was occupied, a group of teenagers stepped on the ed
ge of the property to explore. The homeowner fired on the teenagers' automobile
as they were leaving, seriously injuring one.[15] A woman hunting for ghosts was
killed in a fall from a University of Toronto building.[16]
An offshoot of ghost hunting is the commercial ghost tour conducted by a local g
uide or tour operator who is often a member of a local ghost-hunting or paranorm
al investigation group. Since both the tour operators and owners of the reported
ly haunted properties share profits of such enterprises (admissions typically ra
nge between $50 and $100 per person), some believe the claims of hauntings are e
xaggerated or fabricated in order to increase attendance.[17] The city of Savann
ah, Georgia is said to be the American city with the most ghost tours, having mo
re than 31 as of 2003.[18][19]
Belief statistics[edit]
According to a survey conducted in October 2008 by the Associated Press and Ipso
s, 34 percent of Americans say they believe in the existence of ghosts.[13] More
over, a Gallup poll conducted on June 6 8, 2005 showed that one-third (32%) of Ame
ricans believe that ghosts exist, with belief declining with age.[20][21] Having
surveyed three countries (the United States, Canada, and Great Britain), the po
ll also mentioned that more people believe in haunted houses than any of the oth
er paranormal items tested, with 37% of Americans, 28% of Canadians, and 40% of
Britons believing.[21][22]
In 2002, the National Science Foundation identified haunted houses, ghosts, and
communication with the dead among pseudoscientific beliefs.[5]
Skepticism[edit]
Many ghost-hunting groups say they find evidence of something they can't explain
through scientific or natural means, yet critics question ghost-hunting's metho
dology, particularly its use of instrumentation, as there is no scientifically p
roven link between the existence of ghosts and cold spots or electromagnetic fie
lds. According to skeptical investigator Joe Nickell, the typical ghost hunter i
s practicing pseudoscience.[23] Nickell says that ghost hunters often arm themse
lves with EMF meters, thermometers that can identify cold spots, and wireless mi
crophones that eliminate background noise, pointing out the equipment being used
to try to detect ghosts is not designed for the job. "The least likely explanat
ion for any given reading is it is a ghost," maintains Nickell. Orbs of light th
at show up on photos, he says, are often particles of dust or moisture. "Voices"
picked up by tape recorders can be radio signals or noise from the recorder and
EMF detectors can be set off by faulty wiring or microwave towers.[13]
According to investigator Benjamin Radford most ghost hunting groups including T
he Atlantic Paranormal Society make many methodological mistakes. "After watchin
g episodes of Ghost Hunters and other similar programs, it quickly becomes clear
to anyone with a background in science that the methods used are both illogical
and unscientific". Anyone can be a ghost investigator, "failing to consider alt
ernative explanations for anomalous ... phenomena", considering emotions and fee
lings as "evidence of ghostly encounters". "Improper and unscientific investigat
ion methods" for example "using unproven tools and equipment", "sampling errors"
, "ineffectively using recording devices" and "focusing on the history of the lo
cation...and not the phenomena". In his article for Skeptical Inquirer Magazine
Radford concludes that ghost hunters should care about doing a truly scientific
investigation "I believe that if ghosts exist, they are important and deserve to
be taken seriously. Most of the efforts to investigate ghosts so far have been
badly flawed and unscientific --- and, not surprisingly, fruitless." [8]

Although some ghost hunters believe orbs are of supernatural origin, skeptic Bri
an Dunning says that they are usually particles of dust that are reflected by li
ght when a picture is taken, sometimes it may be bugs or water droplets. He cont
ends that "there are no plausible hypotheses that describe the mechanism by whic
h a person who dies will become a hovering ball of light that appears on film bu
t is invisible to the eye." He does not believe there is any science behind thes
e beliefs; if there were then there would be some kind of discussion of who, wha
t and why this can happen. In his investigations he can not find any "plausible
hypothesis" that orbs are anything paranormal.[24]
Science writer Sharon Hill reviewed over 1,000 "amateur research and investigati
on groups" (ARIGs), writing that "879 identified with the category of ghosts . Hill
reports that many groups used the terms science or scientific when describing thems
elves; however "they overwhelmingly display neither understanding of nor adheren
ce to scientific norms".
"ARIGs often promote their paranormalist viewpoint as scientifically based, espe
cially in community presentations or lectures at educational facilities. While s
cientifically minded observers can readily spot the anemic and shoddy scholarshi
p of popular paranormal investigation, the public, unaware of the fundamental er
rors ARIGs make, can be persuaded by jargon and sciencey symbols."
Hill sees the supernatural bias of such groups as an indication of how "far remo
ved ARIG participants really are from the established scientific community".[7]
Methods and equipment[edit]
A handheld infrared thermometer of the type used by some ghost hunters
Ghost hunters use a variety of techniques and tools to investigate alleged paran
ormal activity.[25][26] While there is no universal acceptance among ghost hunte
rs of the following methodologies, a number of these are commonly used by ghost
hunting groups.[27]
Still photography and video: using digital, night vision, infrared, and even dis
posable cameras.
EMF meter: to detect possibly unexplained fluctuations in electromagnetic fields
.
Tablet PC: to record data, audio, video and even environmental fluctuations such
as electromagnetic fields.[27]
Ambient temperature measurement: using thermographic cameras, thermal imaging ca
meras, infrared thermometers, and other infrared temperature sensors. It should
be noted that all of these methods only measure surface temperature and not ambi
ent temperature.[28]
Digital and analog audio recording: to capture any unexplained noises and electr
onic voice phenomena (EVPs), that may be interpreted as disembodied voices.
Compass: some ghost hunters use a compass to determine the location of paranorma
l spots, similar to EMFs.
Geiger counter: to measure fluctuations in radiation.
Infrared and/or ultrasonic motion sensors: to detect possible anomalous movement
within a given area, or to assist in creating a controlled environment where an
y human movement is detected.
Air quality monitoring equipment: to assess the levels of gases such as carbon m
onoxide, which are thought to contribute to reports of paranormal activity.
Infrasound monitoring equipment: to assess the level of sound vibrations.
Dowsing rods: usually constructed of brass and bent into an L-shape.
Psychics, mediums, or clairvoyants: trance mediums or "sensitive" individuals th
ought to have the ability to identify and make contact with spiritual entities.
Demonologists, exorcists, and clergy: individuals who may say prayers, give bles
sings, or perform rituals for the purpose of cleansing a location of alleged gho

sts, demons, poltergeists, or "negative energy".

Lights out: according to ghost hunting enthusiast websites, many ghost hunters p
refer to conduct their investigations during "peak" evening hours (midnight to 4
a.m.).
Ghost Box: an electronic device that some ghost hunters claim allows communicati
on with spirits.
Interviews: collecting testimony and accounts about alleged hauntings.
Historical research: researching the history behind the site being investigated.
A Ouija board to communicate with spirits.
Cold spots[edit]
According to ghost hunters, a cold spot is an area of localized coldness or a su
dden decrease in ambient temperature. Many ghost hunters use digital thermometer
s or heat sensing devices to measure such temperature changes. Believers claim t
hat cold spots are an indicator of paranormal or spirit activity in the area; ho
wever there are many natural explanations for rapid temperature variations withi
n structures, and there is no scientifically confirmed evidence that spirit enti
ties exist or can affect air temperatures.