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Parapsychology
The study of paranormal psycho logical phenomena. Paranormal refers to unusual experiences that are not easily explained by known scientific principles. Some of the phenomena studied include psychokinesis, extrasensory perception, telepathy, hypnotism, apparitions, materialization, and survival of consciousness after death. Most paranormal phenomena can be categorized into either mental (obtaining infor mation in paranormal ways) or physical (paranormal influences on physical objects) events. The Society for Psychical Research was the first formal gathering of parapsychologists and was founded in 1882 in London. This was the first systematic effort to organize scholars investigating paranormal phenomena. Parapsychology is considered a fringe science by some as it does not fit into the standard theoretical models accepted by mainstream science. For more information, see Irwin and Watt (2007).