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parapsychology

parapsychology

3 9.9
The study of claimed mental powers like telepathy or moving objects with the mind
  • noun
  • /ˌpɛrəsaɪˈkɑlədʒi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : parapsicología
  • The university offers a comprehensive program in parapsychology that explores telepathy and clairvoyance.
  • implications of parapsychology
  • parapsychology and spirituality
  • psychology and parapsychology

But he became head of the British Society of Psychology, not parapsychology.

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Examples

  • Why aren't the findings and implications of parapsychology more accepted?

    Academic text (1993)
  • Did you know that your university... offers a degree in parapsychology?

  • I also teach a course in parapsychology.

  • There were a series of lectures about parapsychology at my university.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Right, didn't you want to study parapsychology?

  • When he was fifteen, his curiosity led him and a few friends into an exploration of parapsychology.

    Academic text (1991)
  • On a more theoretical level, however, parapsychology is importantly related to spirituality, but the connection is indirect.

    Academic text (1995)
  • In my judgment, parapsychology has produced significant evidence for a transcendent psi factor in nature.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Whether as believer, half-believer, or skeptic, the pursuit of the parapsychology of God demands a certain sensitivity and sensibility.

    Academic text (1995)
  • I have absolutely no objection to your studying telepathy or parapsychology to your heart's content but I would make the point that our own field is so embattled that it can only be dangerous to stray into any kind of mysticism.

Synonyms

psychic phenomena
vsparapsychology
1 9.9

Strange events people say come from the mind or from spirits

is the scientific study of such unexplained mental events
psychic phenomenon
vsparapsychology
9.9

A strange event that seems caused by mental powers beyond normal senses

is the scientific study of that unexplained mental event

How Paranormal

occultism
3 9.9
paranormal
60 7.0
parapsychology
  • Specialized
3 9.9
psychology
  • Specialized
286 4.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

parapsychology = psychology (semi-transparent) = para + psych + ology

The word is built from the recognizable prefix para- and the base psychology, but the specialized sense 'study of paranormal mental phenomena' is not fully predictable from the components alone.

Etymology

Parapsychology comes from para- meaning 'beside' or 'beyond' and psychology meaning 'study of the mind'. So, parapsychology is the study of mind phenomena that seem 'beyond' normal psychology, like telepathy or other unexplained mental events.