Paranormal
Paranormal is a
blanket term used to describe a wide variety of purported
anomalous phenomena. According to the Journal of Parapsychology (
Parapsychology Association), the term paranormal describes "any phenomenon that in one or more respects exceeds the limits of what is deemed physically possible according to current scientific assumptions."
[Glossary, The Journal of Parapsychology, Parapsychology Association, accessed August 05, 2006]Many see the term paranormal as synonymous with
parapsychology, which deals with psychical phenomena like
telepathy,
ESP, and survival studies like
ghosts. However, the paranormal also includes subjects considered to be outside of the scope of parapsychology, including
UFOs,
cryptozoology, the
Bermuda Triangle and many other non-psychical subjects.
[What is PSI? What Isn't?, Parapsychology Association, accessed August 01, 2006]
