The Psychology of Anomalous Experiences
with Professor Chris French
Date: February 24th, 2010
Time: 19:00
Cost: FREE
Venue: The Greenbank, Easton, 57 Bellvue Road, Bristol, BS5 6DP
Ever since records began, in every known society, a substantial proportion of the population has reported unusual experiences many of which we would today label as “paranormal”. Opinion polls show that the majority of the general public accepts that paranormal phenomena do occur. Such widespread experience of and belief in the paranormal can only mean one of two things. Either the paranormal is real, in which case this should be accepted by the wider scientific community which currently rejects such claims. Or else belief in and experience of ostensibly paranormal phenomena can be fully explained in terms of psychological factors.
This presentation will provide an introduction to the sub-discipline of anomalistic psychology, which may be defined as the study of extraordinary phenomena of behaviour and experience, in an attempt to provide non-paranormal explanations in terms of known psychological and physical factors. This approach will be illustrated with examples relating to a range of ostensibly paranormal phenomena.
Professor Chris French is the Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit in the Psychology Department at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He has published over 100 articles and chapters covering a wide range of topics within psychology. His main current area of research is the psychology of paranormal beliefs and anomalous experiences. He frequently appears on radio and television casting a sceptical eye over paranormal claims. He is the editor of The Skeptic and writes a regular column for the Guardian’s online science pages.
Tags: Chris French, The Greenbank
i would like to think about attending except that there is no time stated for the talk
would i be given a time for consideration for attendance?
thank you
alice gibbs
Post now updated, doors at 19:00, the talk will begin at approximately 19:30.
Hi,
Is the talk open to the public or for Bristol Skeptics members only? Also, if its open to the public is there an admission fee?
Thank you.
Dominic.
Been meaning to catch up with this talk for so long, is there an entrance fee?
Entrance is FREE and it is open to the public.