Psychic

"Psychic" is a word used to describe an occurrence, ability, or event that is sensed without the use of the five known human senses of sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell. People who are said to possess psychic abilities are referred to as "psychics."

The word itself was coined by French astronomer Camille Flammarion (1842 – 1925). Edward William Cox has been credited with introducing it into the English language.

Psychical research
The rise of modern inquiry into reports of psychical phenomena coincided with the introduction of modern Spiritualism in 1848 and the movement's claims of paranormal abilities. Shortly thereafter, the Society for Psychical Research was founded in Britain (1882) and the American Society for Psychical Research was founded in the United States (1885). Spiritualism was so widespread and the reports of its effects so numerous and impressive that it was inevitable that scientists would be attracted to the alleged phenomena. Early psychical researchers concerned themselves with studying mediums and spiritualist claims. In the early 1900s, a dissatisfaction with the results of the research and political disagreements within psychic research organizations led to a new approach and a new term for the study of psychic phenomena: parapsychology.

Parapsychology began using the experimental approach to psychic phenomena in the 1930s under the direction of J. B. Rhine (1895 – 1980). Rhine popularized the now famous methodology of using card-guessing and dice-rolling experiments in the laboratory in an attempt to find a statistical validation of extra-sensory perception.

In 1957, the Parapsychological Association was formed as the preeminent society for parapsychologists. In 1969, they became affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. That affiliation, along with a general openness to psychic and occult phenomena in the 1970s, led to a decade of increased parapsychological research. During this time, other notable organizations were also formed, including the Academy of Parapsychology and Medicine (1970), the Institute of Parascience (1971), the Academy of Religion and Psychical Research, the Institute of Noetic Sciences (1973), and the International Kirlian Research Association (1975). Each of these groups performed experiments on paranormal subjects to varying degrees. Parapsychological work was also conducted at the Stanford Research Institute during this time, research which continued till February 2007.

In 1979, survey conducted to assess belief in one specific field associated with psychics (ESP). It covered 1,100 US college professors and indicated that more than 50% of them believed that ESP is either an established fact or a likely possibility". Belief was shown to be highest among those involved in arts and humanities, but lowest among psychologists.

The methodology and results of parapsychological work are often debated within the scientific community. However, a consensus within the field of parapsychology is that certain types of psychic phenomena such as psychokinesis, telepathy, and precognition are well-established experimentally. Critics such as Ray Hyman argue that the evidence for psi (psychic phenomena) needs further replication and theoretical work before it is accepted. However, the existence of psychics and the validity of parapsychological experiments is disputed by skeptics.

Skepticism
The possibility that psychic phenomena are real is often met with skepticism, both in the scientific community and the general public. Skeptics say that the evidence presented for its existence is unverified or not sufficiently verified for scientific acceptance. Many parapsychologists who study psychic phenomena agree that many of the instances of more popular psychic phenomena such as mediumism and other psychic feats, can be attributed to non-paranormal techniques such as cold reading and hot reading, or even self- delusion. Magicians such as Ian Rowland and Derren Brown have demonstrated techniques and results similar to those of popular psychics, but they proffer psychological explanations instead of paranormal ones. They have identified, described and developed complex psychological techniques of cold reading and hot reading.

James Randi
Former stage magician and noted debunker James Randi has offered a $1 million prize to anyone who can actively demonstrate "any psychic, supernatural or paranormal ability". In order to claim the prize, a challenger must first complete a preliminary evaluation - demonstrate a psychic ability in uncontrolled circumstances - and must then demonstrate the same ability under agreed, controlled circumstances. No challenger has yet passed the preliminary evaluation.

Correspondence and claims from 150 applicants are listed on the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) website.

Popular culture
Belief in psychic abilities is common. For example, one 2006 poll by researchers Bryan Farha of Oklahoma City University and Gary Steward of University of Central Oklahoma, showed that college seniors and graduate students have more paranormal beliefs than college freshmen. According to the Steiger scientific report, higher education tends to support belief in the paranormal.

Some people also believe that psychic abilities can be activated or enhanced through the study and practice of various disciplines and techniques such as meditation, with a number of books and websites being dedicated to instruction in these methods (see Psionics article for details). Another popular belief is that psychic ability can be inherited and is something that can be passed down from one generation to the next.

There are also a number of individuals who have been proclaimed or proclaimed themselves to be psychics and/or mediums. Some of them make a living as professional fortune tellers. Some either host their own TV programs, such as John Edward or are featured on the shows of others, such as Sylvia Browne (see Paranormal television). Some have made predictions of future events, with varying degrees of accuracy, or have published books of predictions or metaphysical ideas based on psychic themes.

See here for more such individuals.