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WhyPeopleBelieveinGhosts:

TheEvolutionofParanormalBelief
byTimothySclafani

NewsII
December7,2015

TableofContents

I.TheHauntedRamtailFactory
.2
II.TheLifeandTimesofaParanormalInvestigator
.7
III.HauntedProvidence
...10
IV.WhyDoPeopleBelieveinGhosts?
...13
V.TheReligionConnection
........14
VI.Homer,Fuseli,andSirIsaacNewton
........17
VII.GhostsCanHelp
...........19
VIII.MediaPortrayalsoftheParanormal
............20
IX.ParapsychologyandPseudoscience
...21
X.The(Unmarked)GraveofJonathanBuckland
...23
WorksCited
.........25

I.TheHauntedRamtailFactory
FOSTER,R.I.__ItisawarmdayinearlyNovemberwhenThomasDAgastinovisitsthesiteof
theallegedlyhauntedRamtailfactory.DAgastino,at55yearsofage,isdressedinablack,wool
overcoatwitharedinteriorthatcoversadarkgrayturtleneckunderneath.Manyofhislong,grey
andblackhairshavefoundawaytobreakfreefromthelooseponytailwhichhehasfashioned.
Eachofhistenfingersareclaspedbyatleastonering.Fourbandsgracehisthumbandpinky
fingers,whilelargerringsthatdepictsupernaturalcreaturesandobjectsrestonhisindex,middle,
andringfingers.

Thenavyblue2006VolvoS60whereDAgastinoridespassengertakesasharpleftontoRams
TailRoad.Suddenly,itissurroundedbyacemeteryontheleftandaheavilywoodedareaonthe
right.ItpullstoastopinagrassyopeningabouthalfofamileintothecemeteryandDAgastino
stepsout.

Inonehandhecarriesacopyofhisownbook,
RhodeIslandsHauntedRamtailFactory,
andin
theotherhecarriesarectangularaluminumbriefcase.Thebookisavaluableresourcefor
DAgastinoasheretracesthelayoutandthehistoryofthearea.Thebriefcaseishometohis
extensivecollectionofgearusedtoconductparanormalinvestigations.

Sometimesatnight(Ramtail)issodarkyoucantseerightinfrontofyou.Evenwitha
flashlight,allitseemstodoispointlikeafootinfrontofyou,DAgastinosaid.Itsasif
somethingisjustcoveringthegoddamnlight.Youcantseeanything.Ivehadaheadlighton
andwalkedintotrees,becauseitreallyisthatdarkinhere.Iveneverseenaplacesopitchblack
likethatinmylife.

Onthisdaythesunisshiningbright,soDAgastinobeginshistrekdownthewinding,dirtroad
intotheFosterLandTrustwithahopinhisstep.Hepaysnoattentionashepassesaseriesof
notrespassingsignsputupbyProvidenceWater.

Ashewalks,thefallleavescrunchcrisplybeneathhisfeetattimes,somuchthatitoverpowers
hisgentlevoice.Thelandscapearoundhimisflatinthebeginning,butitbecomesmorehillyas
hetraversesdeeperintothewoods.

Lyingaroundindifferentareas,youllstarttoseewhattheycallEnglishbricks,hesays.All
ofthesemoundsarepartoffoundations.

Whatlooksasifitcouldbejustamound,oraholeintheground,tosomeonewalkingtheirdog,
turnsouttobethefoundationofanoldhouse,orawellintheeyesofDAgastino.Itbecomes

clearashescurriesalongthepath,actingassomethingofatourguide,thathistoryisjustas
importantifnotmoresotohimthanghosts.

AmongthenumerouswellknownhauntingsinRhodeIsland,thereisjustonethatisofficially
recognizedbythestate'sgovernmenttheRamtailFactory.LocatedinFosterR.I.,theplace
wheretheRamtailFactorymilloncestoodhasbeenthesubjectofnumerousamateurand
professionalinvestigations.Intheearly1800s,NewEnglandhadestablisheditselfasoneofthe
UnitedStatesmostprosperouslocationsforindustrialization.Fosterwasoneofmanysmall
townsthatwastakenadvantageofforitsfreespacethatwouldsoonbeconvertedintofactories
andmills.

InoneofThomasDAgastinosmanybooksonhauntingsaroundNewEngland,hewritesthat
WilliamPotterandhiswife,MaryEllis,movedtoFosterin1790whenPotterpurchasedasaw
andgristmillfromJonathanHopkins.Withinthenextdecade,Potterwouldexpandhis
millpropertiestoeightgristmills,10sawmills,twoironworks,andaforgeandhammershop.

Approximatelyanotherdecadelater,in1813,Potterwouldtryhishandatthefirst
waterpoweredmillofitstime.Pottermadethedecisiontoincludefivefamilypartnersinhis
operation,andthushimself,hissonOlneyEllis,brotherinlawJonathanEllis,andsonsinlaw
MarvinRoundandPelegWalkercombinedtopurchasesixacresoflandforthemill.Somewhere
betweenoneandtwoyearspassedbeforetheFosterWoolenManufacturingCompanyopened
whilethepartnersexpandedandmodifiedtheland,addingthemillitself,houses,astore,and
wateraccess.

Pottermanagedthedaytodayoperationsofthebusinesswhilethesoninlaw,PelegWalker,
workedasthenightwatchman.Walkerwouldspendthemidnighthoursroamingthelandswith
hislantern.AtthesignoffirstlightWalkerwouldringthebellinsidethemainfactoryindicating
theendofhisownshiftandthebeginningofthemorningshift.Thefactory,whilenotbooming
likesomeRhodeIslandbusinesses,operatedsurelyandsteadilyforjustlessthanadecade.

Intheearly1820s,PelegWalkerandWilliamPottergotintoanargumentthatisgenerally
believedtohavebeenoverfinances.TheargumentreacheditscrescendowhenWalkertold
Potterhewouldeventuallyhavetotakethekeystothefactoryfromthepocketofadeadman.
OnthemorningofMay19,1822,PelegWalkermadegoodonhisthreat.Asthesunrose,the
workersfailedtohearthebellringoutastheywereaccustomedto.Theyhastilywenttothe
factorytoseewhatcausedthischangeinroutineandfoundthedoorslocked.Uponbreaking
downthedoors,theworkersfoundthe35yearoldPelegdead,hangingfromthebellropewith
thefactorykeysinhispocket.

Productioncontinuedintheabsenceofthenightwatchman,butithaltedjustafew
nightslaterwhenbelltolledatmidnight,believedtobethewitchinghourbytheworkersof
thefactoryandthePotters.Theworkersmadetheirwaytothefactoryagain,butcouldfindno
evidenceofanybodybeinginside.Whenthisverysameoccurrencetookplacejustthenext
night,WilliamPottersurethatsomeonewasplayingtricksonhimmadeapointofhaving
thebellroperemovedfromthefactory.

Whenthebellcontinuedtoringoutfollowingtheremovalofthebellrope,thePottershadlittle
choicebuttoremovethebellitself.Totheirdismay,whathappenednextseemedtoallbut
confirmthepersistingpresenceofPelegWalker.Theentiresurroundvillagewaswokenone
nightatmidnightbythesoundsofthefactoryemptyrunninginfulloperation.Most
frighteningofallwasthesightofthelargewaterwheel,thefactoriessourceofpower,turning
againstthecurrentofthestream.Horrifiedworkersbegantoquittheirjobatthefactoryin
droves,andthesituationonlybecamemoredireforthePottersasreportsofpeopleseeinga
ghostlyfigureroamingthegroundsafterdarkwithalanternbegantosurface.

By1850,theFosterWoolenManufacturingCompanyhadcloseditsdoorsforgood.Thecause,
asperthe
FosterHistoricalRecords
intheRhodeIslandHistoricalLibrary,wasthehauntingof
PelegWalker.In1880s,theremainingstructureswereburnedtothegroundbyafireofunknown
origins.Thefirewouldbethelastbitofevidencesupportingthehauntingthatthestateneeded
the1886RhodeIslandStateCensusindicatesthedefunctRamtailFactoryasthefirstofficially
hauntedlocationinthestate.

OnthesubjectofthehauntedRamtailfactory,theonlyplaceDAgastinohasinvestigatedthat
meriteditsownbookwrittenaboutit,therearesomeongoing,excitingdevelopmentsthatheis
eagertoaddress.Hesaysthestorycaughthisattention23yearsagowhenhesawitmentionedin
anewspaperarticle.

WhenIwentthereitwasjustamagicalplace,DAgastinosaidofRamtail.Westarteddoing
ourinvestigationsthere,andIrealizedtherewasalotofgaps.Itbecameapersonalendeavorfor
metofillthoseinformationalgaps.

AsforthenewdevelopmentDAgastinoisunderthebeliefthatPelegWalker,theghostlynight
watchman,onlyaccountedforoneofthesuicidesatRamtail.ThroughDAgastinosnormal
researchprocessofcombingthroughextensivedepthsofdeedsandFostertownrecords,hehas
discoveredanotherpossiblesuicideJonathanBuckland.Historicaldocumentsrevealthat
Bucklandwasalsoworkingatthefactoryin1817,andheowedthePotterfamilyquiteabitof
money.

Bucklandwasworkingatthefactory,doingthenightshift,andgotwrappedupinasixmonth
loanwiththePotterfamily.DocumentsattheFosterTownHalldocumentthesuicideof
Bucklandshortlyafterhisdebtwasdue.

Throughthetracingofhislife,throughthetracingsofwhatIfoundindeedsandrecordsofhim
oweingthePottersmoneythereshistoricalrecordsthattheyliterallycalledontheirloan.
OlneyandWilliamPotter.Hehadnothingleft.Hewasbroke:Iambroke.Ihavenothing.
Commitsuicide.

Afterwalkingbetweenhalfandtwothirdsofamile,hearrivesathisdestinationtheplotofland
wherethemainfactorybuildingoncestood.Hepointstoanareainthegroundwherethe
bubblingbrookmakesauturn,andextendsintoalargerectangularstoneformation.Heexplains
thatthisiswherethemillthatpoweredthefactoryoncestood.

DAgastinopointstoaseriesofothersmallrockformationsinthearea,describingthemasthe
oldvillagestore,andtheblacksmithshopoftheoldmill.Hepacesthegroundsasifhecanstill
seethedefunctbuildingserectedastheywereinthe1800s.Hestepsoverrootsandfallen
branchestoanareaabout50yardsawayfromthebrook.Arectangularformationsimilartothat
ofthewheelwellisbuiltintoalargestonewall.

Afterwalkingaroundforabout15minutesandreabsorbingtheatmosphereoftheplacethat
captivatedD'Agastinosomanyyearsago,hisattentionturnstohisbriefcase.Hewalksback
overtotheareabythebrookandlaysitdowninthegrassnexttoatalltree.Hepullsacrowded
keyringfromhisleftpocketandbeginstofumblearoundwiththetwolatchesholdingthe
briefcasetogether.

Themetalkeyseemsincapableofpenetratingthesmallmetallatches,sohelayshiskeychainon
thegroundandopensuphiswallet.Hepullsoutasparekey,nearlyidenticaltothefirstone,and
hasbetterluckthistimearound.

Heeagerlyopenshisbriefcaseandrevealsacarefullyorganized,carefullyselectedarrayof
variousgadgetsandgizmosmeanttorevealordisprovethepresenceofaparanormal
entity..AmongthetoolsisanEMFreader,whichisusedtomeasuretheelectromagneticfields
presentinthearea.Additionally,thereisablacklightwhichisusedtodetectbloodstainsinan
area.DAgastinosaysthatheusedthistoprovethattherewasbloodstillpresentinthebasement
ceilingbeamsoftheLizzieBordenHouseinFallRiver,Mass.

Healsohasathermalscanner,avideocamera,atwowayradio,asmallinfraredrecorder,anFM
SynthesizedReceiverhiscellphonetothedead,alevel,atapemeasure,hisdowsing
rods,apendulum,andanassortmentofflashlights.

HeelectstheEMFreaderandtheFMreceiverashistoolsofchoiceforthisparticular
investigation.HeflipstheonswitchtotheEMFreader,andtherectangularblackboxreads
0.02,whichhesaysisatypicalreadingforanareawithnoelectromagneticfieldspresent.

DAgastinoflipsonthesmallblackFMreceiver,whichlooksmorelikeasmallremote
controller,andbeginstoaskquestionsofPelegWalker.Eachoneisfollowedbyalongsilence
thatisinfinitelymoreeeriethanthelast.

PelegWalker,thisisTomDAgastino,howareyoudoingtoday?

Imspeakingtoanyonewhowantstosayanythingtome.JonathanBuckland,areyouhere?

Mr.Buckland,wouldyouliketotellusanything?

DAgastinoturnsofthereceivertemporarilyandlaystheEMFReaderagainstthetree.

Mr.Buckland,canyoutelluswhathappenedwhenyouowedmoneytothePotters?

PelegWalker,canyoutelluswhathappenedonthenightofMay19,1822?

Doyouknowwhatyearitis?

Despitetheapparentlackofparanormalactivityatthetime,DAgastinoisfarfromdiscouraged.
Todaystillholdsanopportunityforhimtogathernewpuzzlepiecesonhisnewtheoryabout
JonathanBuckland.Hecomparesthephotosfromthe1800sfeaturedinhisbooktothecurrent
ruinsofthefactoryonelasttimebeforehestartstomakehiswayoutofthepath.

DAgastinoisconfidentofahauntingintheareabecausehehashadmultipleencounterswith
whatheswearswastheghostofPelegWalker.

Itwasdark,andaswerestandingthereabout45minutesinwesawthislight,likea
glowinglantern,hesaid.Itstartedmovingaroundasifitwaswalking,butitwashighupin
theair,itwasntrightontheground.Itlookedlikeitwaswalkingonwhatwouldhaveoncebeen
thefirstfloorofthebuilding.Afterwatchingthisforabout7or8seconds,Iturnedtolookatmy
friendandhewasrunningupthepath.Hewasgone.

Anothernightwecameuphere,onafullmoon,andwecouldhearwhatsoundedlikesomeone
walkingwithalanternwalkbyus,hesaid.ThatfreakedoutthepeopleIwaswith.Theynever
cameback.

AsidefromthepeoplethatTom,orPelegWalker,hasspookedoutofthearea,itisstillapopular
dogwalkingdestinationforresidentsofFoster.AsDAgastinoexitsthepathandgoestoget
backintothecar,hebumpsintoamanwithapairofheadphonesandametaldetector.Thetwo
holdafriendlyconversationwhereTomfillshiminonplacesofinterestthatmightyieldbetter
findingsthanothers.

Isthereanythingontheothersideoftheriverthere?themanpointsandasks.

ThatovertherewouldbetheRoundfarm,DAgastinosays,atestamenttohisexpansive
knowledgeofthearea.Iveactuallymetaldetectedoverthereandfoundsomehingesandstuff.
TheRoundshavebeenheresincetheearly1800sandon.Theressomecemeteriesaroundin
theareatoowheretheyreburied.

Ilovedoingacemetery,themanresponds.butyougottabecareful,sometimesyouget
chasedout.

WhetherthemanwasmakingamacabrereferencetoDAgastinosinterestsorsimplyreferring
topoliceorresidentsisunclear.
II.TheLifeandTimesofaParanormalInvestigator
DAgastinospeaksmerrilyabouthislifeasaprofessionalghosthunter,author,freelance
journalist,rockmusician,andparttimemusicalinstrumentstoreclerk.ItallstartedforTomin
thesameplacewhereherecentlyfinishedhisleftovertunaandquicheforlunchhisparents
home.WhilehehimselflivesinPutnam,Conn.withhiswife,ArleneNicholson,hefrequently
theSmithfield,R.I.residentwherehisparentshavelivedfor53years.

ThatSmithfieldhomeprovidedDAgastinowithhisfirsttasteofthesupernatural.Herecites
numerousoccasionsthroughouthis,andhisthreebrothers,childhoodswheretheyfound
themselvesevacuatingtheirbedroom,consideredtobekindofascaryplace,beforesleeping
inthecellarorintheparlor.Banjosstrumming,weightsrolling,andstuffedanimalsflyingor
movingwerecommonplaceintheDAgastinohousehold.

Youcouldalwaystellifsomethingwasgoingtohappen,DAgastinosaid,Therewasthis
yellowishhuethatwouldtakeovertheroom.

WhilehisparentshomewasenoughtosparkTomsinterestinthesupernatural,itwouldtake
anotherbigfrightbeforehewouldenterparanormalinvestigatingasaprofession.Afriendof
DAgastinoshadpurchasedahouseonSilkRoadinNorthScituate,R.I.,andaskedhimto
spendthewintertheretomakesureitwasundisturbedduringthefriendsoutofstatestudies.
WhenTomandafewfriends,includinghissister,spenttheirfirstnightatthehouse,theywere
awokenbythesoundofmultiplestompsandfootsteps.Thegroupassumedthattherewasaparty
goingondownstairssincethehousehadbeenvacantforquitesometime.

Thenextnightbroughtmoreofthesamesounds.Abranchoutside,orawhackedoutdruggie
whomayhavebeensquattingtherewerethelikelyculpritsinDAgastinoseyes.Finally,two
nightslater,herecountsthatthewholegroupwassittinginthelivingroom,laughingandjoking,
whenallofasuddentheyallcametoapausetheywerefrozen.Simultaneously,thewindowat
thetopofthestairscameunbolted,androlledallthewaytothetopofthestepsbeforeittoo
frozerightatthetopofthestairs.Tomrecountsthatafterthathiscousinandsistergotup
immediatelyandranoutthedoor.EvenTomhimselfcouldonlymusterupanothercoupleof
nightsattheSilkLanehomebeforehehadtocallitquits.

Icouldntgetanysleepinthatplaceanymore,heexplained.

ThatSilkLanethingiswhatgotmestudyingthescience,DAgastinosaid.Tohaveallof
thoseeventshappenthatwasntjustdeadpeoplerunningaround.Thatwasenergy.Thatwas
somethingveryscientific.ItmademerealizethatIbetterstartstudyingmoresciencesifIm
goingtoattackthis,becauseIcantjustwalkaroundwitharecorderyellingshowyourself!.
Mr.Withers,orwhoeveritisfromScoobyDoo,isntgoingtocomerunningoutinacostume.

ThesupernaturaleventsthatseemedtoturnupeverynowandagainthroughDAgastinosyoung
lifeledtohistrainingasanapprenticeunderneathmoreexperiencedparanormalinvestigators.
Hecreditsthiswayoflearningaswhyhestillactivelypracticestheoldschoolwayofghost
hunting,wherehevalueshisinstinctsandhissensesoverhokey,inconsistentdevicesthatcanbe
purchasedbyanyone.Hefindsthatcommonfareghosthuntinggadgetsareofteninaccurateasa
resultofthesignalsandwavesbeingtransmittedthroughtheairbycellphones,computers,and
othertechnology.

There'ssomanyradiofrequenciesintheairnow,itspathetic,DAgastinosaid.Iftheradio
frequenciesthatwereinthisairrightnowweresolid,wewouldbeinbrick.

Forthisreason,DAgastinodoesutilizeElectromagneticFrequency(EMF)sensorstotellhim
whentechnologymaybethecauseofadisturbanceratherthanaghost.Hepointstotheexample

ofatimewhenhewasinvestigatinganauditoriumwherepeopleshairwouldstandstraightupin
oncertainpartsofthestage.HisEMFsensorquicklyledhimtoafuseboxbehindthecurtain
wherenearly15plugswerepluggedintoonesimpletwoplugoutlet,causingstrayfrequencies.

DAgastinoswife,ArleneNicholson,hasalsobeenhispartneringhosthuntingsincetheir
marriage,inthe(reportedlyhaunted)StagecoachTaverninGlocester,R.I.onOctober31,2001.
SheusesTarotCardstocommunicatewithspiritsinanarea,oftentimesfulfillingmuchofthe
legworkforTomandsavinghimfromattemptingverbalcommunicationswiththespirits.She
alsomakesuseoftheirdowsingrodsanotabletoolsinceitsoriginsinexecutingwitches
usedtomeasuredisturbancesintheearth'smagneticfieldfromthewaterandearthunderneathan
area.DAgastinoisofthebeliefthathiswifeismoreintunewiththephysicalenergyofthe
Earth,whichmakesherabettercandidateforsomeofthesespecifictasks.

WhileDAgastinohascompletedover1,200paranormalinvestigations,andiscontactedasoften
astwiceaweektodooneonsomebodyshomeorproperty,hedoesnotspeakaboutthese.Itisa
violationofsomeonesprivacytodivulgeinformationaboutthesupernaturalstateoftheir
homes.Hedoes,however,talkfreelyabouttheinvestigationsofpublicplacessaidtobehaunted,
andthesearethesubjectsofhis11bookshehaswrittenonthesubject.

Heclaimsthatpeoplewereconstantlyaskinghimplacestogetagoodscare.Peoplewerealways
showingupatshowsforhisoutlawpartycountryrockband,SwervingCadillacs,askingfor
coordinatesoraddressesofwheretogo.Tomfinallygottiredofwritingtheplacesdownonbar
napkinsandputitininkonpaperinstead.Heisactivelyworkingontwonewbookscovering
slightlydifferenttopicsthanhispreviousworks.One,heexplains,willbeanonfictionhistorical
examinationofthebirthanddeathpracticesofColonialAmerica.Theotherbook,closertowhat
DAgastinoknows,willchroniclethemanylifeexperiences(primarilyparanormal)ofTomand
Arlene.

Whenconfrontedwiththeideaofskeptics,D'Agastinosresponseisprettysimple.

Tome,askepticisjustsomebodywhohasntseenanythingyet,DAgastinosaid.Skeptics
probablytakeupthatsidebecausetheywanttoargueapoint,butIlikethepeoplewhoclaimto
takeaskepticalapproach.Ifyouwereaskeptic,whichmeansyoudontbelieveinit,thenwhy
areyouinvestigatingit?ThatslikemesayingIdontlikebaseballandthengoingtoaRedSox
game.

Hegoesontoexplainthathepreferstotakeanobjectiveapproach.Abigpartofhisjobasa
paranormalinvestigatorisdiagnosingsituations,suchasthestage,andtellingthepeoplewho

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contactedhimthattheplaceisdefinitelynothaunted.DAgastinorefusestoputonashowfor
anyoneinaninvestigation.

Luckilyforthoseinterestedinfindingthetruthbehindtheparanormal,therearemanypeople
throughoutthecountryandthestatewhofollowthesamecodeasDAgastino.
III.HauntedProvidence
ErinNewellisoneofanumberofguideswholeadsaneveningwalkthroughthesteepand
twistingstreetsofProvidence,R.I.sCollegeHillarea.CollegeHill,oneofsixneighborhoodsin
theEastSideofProvidence,ismostnotableforhostingBrownUniversityandtheRhodeIsland
SchoolofDesign.Thestreetsthatmakeupthebaseofthehillarebustlingwithcafesand
restaurantscateredtothenumerouscollegestudentsandrecentgraduateswhomakeupthe
majorityofthearea'spopulation.Furtherupthehillthebuildingsshowsignificantlymoresigns
ofage,andtheyareprimarilystudenthousingandcampusbuildings.

Erinisdressedinblack,Victoriangarbandcarriesalantern,buttheillusionisshatteredbythe
electriclightbulbinsidethelanternandtheiPadinherotherhand.Sheisinchargeofregistering
the60orsopeoplestandingbeforeherinProspectTerraceParkonCongdonStreetandsplitting
themintotwogroups.Theparkprovidesaclear,alluringviewofDowntownProvidence,andthe
nearlyfullmoonprovidesilluminationforthelandscapepanorama.At7:10,thefirstgroup
shufflesawayfromtheothergroupandtheirtourbegins.Eringivestheothertourguideabout10
minutestogethergroupmovingbeforetheProvidenceGhostTourisonitsway.

TheProvidenceGhostTourwasfoundedin2006byCourtneyEdgeMattosandherbusiness
partner,MikeGertrudes.WhenCourtneywasveryyoung,herfamilyboughtadilapidated
farmhouseonamountaininVermont.Somepartsofthehousedatedallthewaybacktothe
1690s.ThishouseiswhereCourtneysearliestmemoriestookplace.

Duringtheirtimeatthecreekymountainhome,thefamilyexperiencedsignificantparanormal
activity.Eventually,theyupandleftduetotheperpetuallyuncomfortablefeelinginthe
house.Itgottothepointwherehermomwouldhavedreamsofspiritstellinghertheywanted
thefamilyoutofthehouse.

Mymemoriesarelimited,butthestorieswerethefoundationofmychildhood,EdgeMattos
says.

CourtneygraduatedfromtheUniversityofRhodeIslandwithdualdegreesintheaterandFrench,
thoughshewasinitiallyenrolledasahistorymajor.Duringhertimeincollege,Courtneyheld
paranormalinvestigationsasahobbythatshewouldpartakeinwithherfriends.Proceedingher

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degree,shewasseekingacareerpaththatwouldemployhercreativity,theaterpractice,andlove
ofhistory.ShewasaguideattheNewportGhostTourforitsinauguralseason,butshe
ultimatelydesiredajobthatwasmorefinanciallysustainable.

HerhusbandintroducedhertoafriendofhisMikewhowasinsearchofasimilar
endeavor.

Onemonthlater,wewereswimmingintextsattheProvidencePublicLibrary,EdgeMattos
says.Weresearchedthehistoryforninemonths,findingghostsaswewent,anddevelopedthe
scriptforthetourfromthere.

Atthemoment,theProvidenceGhostTourisCourtneyssecondjob.Sheisasocialworker
specializingintrainingandlicensingfosterandpreadoptivehomesfulltime.Thetouroperates
fromJunethroughmidNovember,thoughattendancefluctuatesignificantlydependingonthe
timeofyear.

Thedemandsofthejobebbandflowastheseasonmoves,saysEdgeMattos.Onaweekend
summernight,weaverage15guests.Onaweekendfallnight,weaverageabout100.Obviously
thebusierthetouris,thebusierIam.

ThejobisdemandingevenoutsideoftheJunetoNovemberoperatingwindow.From
earlyMarchthroughtheendofDecember,Courtneyhiresandtrainsnewguides,makesthe
schedule,checksinontourstoensurequalityofthetours,collectsmoney,handlespayroll,
workswithprivatetourgroups,leadstheoccasionalpublictour,paysadvertisers,andensures
compliancewithstateandfederaltaxandlaborregulations.

BackinProvidence,Erinbeginsthetourbydirectingeveryonesattentiontowardsthelarge
archwaythatstandsbehindher.sheexplainsthattheremainsofthestatesfounder,Roger
Williams,arecontainedwithinthemonument.Allwhileprovidingafairlycomprehensive
historyofcolonialRhodeIsland,Erinbeginstousherherpupilsbeyondtheparkandintothe
windingstreetsofCollegeHill.

Sheexplainsthattermssuchasapparition,poltergeist,andghost,areallusedinterchangeably
despiteestablisheddifferencesineachoftheirdefinitions.Ghostisusedlikeanumbrellaterm
thatencompassesallofthedifferentincarnationsofaspirit.Tobemorespecificaccordingto
LoydAuerbachanapparitioniswhatisseen,heard,felt,orsmelledrepresentingthatpartof
thehumanpersonalitythatcansomehowexistinourphysicaluniverseafterthedeathofa
personsbody.Itcanonlybeconsideredanapparitionifitiscapableofcommunication,
personality,orintelligence.Withoutthesethings,itisonlyconsideredanenvironmental

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recording,alsoknownasahaunting.Poltergeists,ontheotherhand,arealmostalways
representedbyphysicalevidencesuchasfootsteps,knocking,movingfurnitureorsmaller
objects,andelectricalappliancesturningonandofformisbehaving.

Whiletheseparanormalentitiesaretypicallyassociatedwithaghostlybody,thatis
fundamentallybelievednottobetruebymostresearchers.Instead,itisconsensusamongmost
thatapparitionsandpoltergeistsoperatethroughtheirmindtoaffectthephysicalworld,therefore
usingaformofpsychokinesisknownastelekinesis.Ahaunting,ontheotherhand,canoftenbe
representedbyaphysicalentity.

Hauntingsarelikealoopthatreplaysoverandoverforanextendedperiodoftime,andtheyare
oftentiedtoonespecificplaceorobjectratherthantoaperson.AccordingtotheStoneTape
Theory,ghostsarenomorethanwhathappenswhenabuildingrecordsandconsistentlyreplays
anevent.Whilehauntingsareultimatelyharmless,theycanberatherdisturbingifthememory
theyarereplayingisthatofaneventsuchasamurderorsuicide.Researchhasbeenconducted
thatplacedunknowingbystandersinanareawhereahauntinghadbeenreportedthebystanders
almostimmediatelynoticed,andwereevendrawnto,theexactareawherethehauntingwassaid
tooccur.

ThesitesandstoriesalongthetourincludeH.PLovecraftshomeinProvidencewitha
mischievousstreetlampoutfront,asupposedlyhauntedapartmentonNightingaleStreet
(affectionatelyreferredtobystudentsasFrightengale),andauniversityhallthatservedasa
medicalwardduringtheRevolutionaryWar.Ateachofthesesites,Eriniseagertotellher
followerswhentheparticularsiteyieldsaninfluxinghostlyactivityduringthetours.Onthis
chillyNovembernight,Erinstourwasnottreatedtoanyapparitionsinthewindowsor
bloodcurdlingscreams.

Shecarefullyexplainedateachlocationthatsomethingcalledanorbisthemostcommon
occurrenceduringhertours.Anorbwillappearinphotosasasmallballoflight,whileinreality
itisasmallcollectionofinexplicableenergy.Supposedlyacamera,eventhatofanaverage
smartphone,iscapableofcapturingtheseorbsbecausetheycanprocessmorethanthehuman
eyeataquickerrate.Basedonthelackofanysuddenexclamationsorexcitedyammeringfrom
thetourgoers,nooneseemstohavecapturedanorbonthisbriskautumnevening.

CourtneyEdgeMattossaysthatshehasnoideahowmanypeoplewhotakethetourareeither
believersorskeptics.Thereisnowaytotellforcertain.

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Iknowthatsomestartasskepticsandendthetourasbelievers,EdgeMattossays.Werooted
thetourinrealaccountsandhistoryinordertobeashonestandrealaspossible.Wewant
everyonetoenjoytheireveningwithusnomatterwhattheirbeliefsystemis.

ThetourservesasaninterestinghistorylessonforthoseinterestedinlearningaboutProvidence.
Iteducatesthosewhofollowitandpayattention,anditdoessothroughalensethatprovides
adrenalineandathrillformost.Whiletheprobabilityofencounteringanactualspiritduringthe
tourisimmeasurable,itssafetosaythatmanynightsplayoutexactlythesameasthisone.The
photogalleryonthewebsite,whereuserscansubmittheirspookypicturesfromapast
experienceonthetour,hostsnomorethanblurry,inconclusivepicturesfromthenightbefore.
Themajorityofthephotoswhereaspirithasbeenidentifiedappeargrainy,morethan
anythingelse.
IV.WhyDoPeopleBelieveinGhosts?
Therearecountlesstheoriesexplainingwhypeoplechoosetobelieveinanideathatdefiesthe
lawsofthephysicalworld.In2013,aHarrisPollof2,250Americansrevealedthat42percent
believeinghosts.Eventhoughthereisageneraltendencytoperceivetheideaofghostsasscary,
italsoprovidesaffirmationoftheafterlifetobelievers,thereforeprovidingcomforttomany.In
thecaseofDAgastinoandothers,itisanexcitinglenstoapplywhileexamininganareawitha
richhistory(suchasRamtail,orCollegeHill).

Scholarsacrosstheworldhavedevelopedseveraltheoriestoexplainwhatleadstopeople's
beliefintheparanormal.Onesuchtheoryiscalledthedeprivationtheory,whichstatesthat
paranormalbeliefsprovidepeoplewiththemeanstocopewiththepsychologicalandphysical
strainofdisadvantagedsocialandeconomicstatus.BasedonUnitedStatesdemographics,that
meansthatwomen,AfricanAmericans,andlowereducatedpeoplearemorelikelytobelievein
theparanormalaccordingtodeprivationtheory.Theevidencealsosuggeststhatruraland
suburbandwellersaremorelikelytoholdbeliefsintheparanormalthanthoseinanurban
setting.

Almosteverystudyonthematterhasbeendoneholdingoneoftwohypothesesastrue.Thefirst
assertsthatpeoplewhobelieveinreligionarelesslikelytobelieveintheparanormaland
viceversa.ThereisanumberofreasonsforthisbeliefoneexamplebeingthatChristian
hierarchydoesnothaveaplaceforghostlybeings.Thecompetinghypothesisstatesexactlythe
oppositepeoplewhobelieveinonearefarmorelikelytobelieveintheother,andviceversa.
Wolfwritesthatitisasmallsteptomovefrombelievinginthedevilandangelstobelievingin
ghostsandaliens.

14

Assuch,Wolfdesignedastudythatwouldhopefullyrevealoneofthesetwohypothesestobe
thestandardbywhichscholarsandinvestigatorsshouldoperateundergoingforward.Whathe
determinedisthatthedeprivationtheory,statingthatmarginalizedgroupsofpeoplearemore
likelytobelieveintheparanormal,islargelyinaccurate.Thereislittletonocorrelationproving
this.Thesameistrueforbothhypothesesthathewastesting,whichwerealsoinconclusive.
Wolfassertsthatperhapstheiraccuracyhaschangedasaresultofdifferentideologiesprevailing
sincetheirinception.Beliefinreligionshaschangeddrasticallysincethe1960s,andfilm
treatmentoftheparanormalcouldinfluencepeopleinonedirectionortheother.

Thereisawidelyacceptedpsychologicaltheorystatingthatpeople'sbeliefsservesignificant
psychodynamicneedsoftheindividual.Initsapplicationtoparanormalbeliefs,thisisreferred
toasthepsychodynamicfunctionshypothesis.Researchthroughoutthelate1900shasbeen
successfulincraftingafairlywellagreeduponprofileofparanormalbelieversOftentimes
paranormalbelieversappearasaveragelyoutgoingpeople,butinternallytheyaretypicallymore
interestedintheworldoftheirownsubjectiveexperiencethanintheneedsofthosearound
them.
V.TheReligionConnection
Itseasytounderstandwhyotherpartsoftheworldhaveevenstrongerbeliefintheparanormal
thanintheUnitedStates.InChina,therearethreedifferentreligionsthatinfluencethe
philosophyofthemajorityofitspopulation.TheyareConfucianism,Taoism,andBuddhism,
andeachreligionoffersadifferentwayofhandlingaperson'sspiritandbodyaftertheirpassing.
NativeAmericansalsohaveastrongandwelldocumentedtiestospiritualismandabeliefinthe
afterlife.

Ithinkpeoplewanttoknowthatthereismore.Thatthislifeisntallthereis.Thattheresmore.
Theresactuallyanotherside.ImadevoutCatholic,whichsurprisespeople,theysayhowcan
youbelieveinghostsandbeadevoutcatholic?,allitdoesiswhenIgetevidenceitjust
verifieswhatmyreligiontellsmethatthereislifeafterdeath,saidMaggieFlorio,thedirector
oftheRhodeIslandParanormalResearchGroupandSociety.Peopledontwanttobelievethat
thisisallthereis.Ithinkthatswhypeoplewanttobelieveinghosts.Andtheyalsowantto
believethatwhentheirlovedonespassaway,thattheyrestillaround.Thatthereissomebody
watchingoutforthem.Thattheyreallyhaventlostanybody.

Floriowaseightyearsoldwhensheclaimstohaveseenherfirstghost.

ItwastheoneofthemosthotandstickynightsoftheSummerbackinthetimeswhenonlythe
veryrichpeoplehadairconditioners.Herbedwasabouttwofeetawayfromthewindow,

15

whichwaswideopenwiththeshadespulledup,thoughnotevenabreathofairwasentering
theroom.Maggiewasgarbedinjustapairofunderwearandabedsheet.

Shewokeupfromherslumbertoseeawomanstandingatthewindowrightnexttoherbed.The
woman'srighthandwasholdingthecurtainback,asifthewomanwaslookingatsomething
outside.Herfacewasveiledbytheshadows,andherfeetwereeclipsedbyMaggiesbed.She
waswearingalongsleeveddresswithahighneckmadefromadarkcoloredfabricwithfloral
patternonit.

Imustbedreaming,Maggiethought.Whowouldbedressedlikethatinthisheat?

Maggieblinkedoneeyeandthewomanwasstillthere.Sheblinkedtheothereyetothesame
result.Sheblinkedbotheyestogetherand,again,theghostlyfigureremained.

WhileMaggiedideventuallyfallbacktosleep,thiswouldonlybethefirstofseveralparanormal
experiencesthroughoutherchildhood.ItwastheimpetusforMaggietobegintoconsumeallof
theparanormalrelatedliteratureandresearchthatshecould.Thoughtheghostlyencounters
continuedperiodicallythroughoutMaggieshighschoolandcollegeyears,herpassionforthe
supernaturaleventuallytookabackseattoanotherhobbymusic.

Herparanormalexperiencesreachedaparamountinlate2002andearly2003.Maggiefirst
reachedouttotheTheRhodeIslandParanormalResearchGroup(T.R.I.P.R.G)inDecemberof
2002afterherhusbandandherbothhadasupernaturalexperienceinthecoatroomoftheAldrich
MansioninWarwick,R.I.Thegroupsformerdirector,AndyLairdwhofoundedthegroupin
1984respondedtoMaggieandconfirmedtoherthattheAldrichMansionwasaknown
hauntedspotinRhodeIsland.

Thetwocontinuedtheircorrespondence,andAndyeventuallyencouragedMaggietodoherown
paranormalinvestigationinFebruaryof2003withhersonforaschoolscienceproject.Maggie,
herhusband,andhersonsetoutwiththemostbasicofinvestigativeequipmentacameraand
cassetterecorder.Duringtheironehourtriptothecemetery,thetriocapturedElectromagnetic
VoicePhenomenon(EVP)essentiallyaudiofromaspiritandMaggiewashooked.

Idogetafraid.Imhuman.Weallgetafraid.Ivegottensomeprettyscaryevidence.Butits
notgoingtodetermefromkeepingondoingit,Floriosays.

InMarchof2003,MaggiewasofferedapositionasaprobationarymemberofT.R.I.P.R.G.
Withinthelastyear,Maggiehadlosthearinginoneofherears,thereforeshewasactivelytrying
toreplacethetimewheremusichadpreviouslyoccupiedherlife.FromMaggieshusband's

16

encouragementtojointhegrouptoherfamily'sinitialacceptanceofherclaimsofseeingaghost
at8yearsold,familycanbehighlyinfluentialinwhetherornotsomeonebelievesinthe
supernatural.

Consideringthefactthatmanymorepeopleclaimtobelieveinghoststhanthosewhoclaimto
havehadaparanormalexperiencethemselves,socialtransmissionmustplayaroleinthese
beliefs.Oneofthestrongestformsofsociallearningisfromparenttochild,sincechildrenspend
yearsobservingandlearningthebehaviorsandbeliefsoftheirparents.Researchintheearly
1900sshowedthatparentswereamajorsourceofsuperstitiousbeliefamongparticipants.Later,
studiesinthe21stcenturyfoundpeopleclaimingtheirparentswereimportantsourcesof
paranormalbeliefingeneral.

BenjaminRadfordisoneoftheworld'sfewtruesciencebasedinvestigators.Heistheauthor
ofnumerousarticlesandbooks,including
ScientificParanormalInvestigation:HowtoSolve
UnexplainedMysteries
.Hebelievesthattherearethreeprimaryfactorsthatleadtosuchalarge
percentageoftheworldpopulation'sbeliefinthesupernatural.

First,Radfordcitespersonalexperienceastheleadingcauseofbeliefinghosts.People
experienceeventsthattheycannotexplain,suchassmellsorsoundsintheirhome,andmany
timestheirfirstsuspectisaghost.Oncetheideaofaghostisembeddedintheirthoughts,or
evenpresentinthebackoftheirminds,itishardforthemtoconsiderotherpossibilitiesevery
timetheyexperienceasimilarevent.ArecentPewResearchsurveyfindsthatasmanyas18
percentofAmericansclaimtohaveseenaghost.

Radfordalsostatesthatreligionisamajorfactorinparanormalbeliefsbeingentrenchedin
manypeoplesminds.Catholicismmakesexplicitmentionofghoststhroughoutthebible,from
theHolyGhosttoothermoreminorcharacters.Islam,andmorespecificallytheQuran,
prominentlyfeaturesJinnsbeingsthatcannotbeseenbutarecapableofphysicalinterference
andpossessionoflivinghumanbodies.GhostsarealsoprominentinBuddhistreligionthrough
commonbeliefintheideaofreincarnation.

Lastly,Radfordpointstoalargerspectrumofbeliefsthatcontributestothemassiveamountof
peoplearoundtheworldwhobelieveinthesupernatural.Beliefinghostshasaverystrong
correlationwithbeliefintheafterlife,reincarnation,andneardeathexperiences(NDEs).

Inthatview,ghostsareonlyoneofaclusterofrelatedbeliefs,Radfordsays.Ifyoubelievein
anyoneofthosethings,byimplicationyoubelieveintherestofthem.Ifyoubelievethatthe
soulsurvivesafterdeath,thenyoubelieveinghosts.

17

Radfordisalsoquicktodrawattentiontotelevisedparanormalinvestigations,viashowslike
GhostHunters
and
GhostAdventures
.Hesaysthatshowssuchasthese,whicharespecifically
forentertainment,caninfluencepeople'sbeliefinthesupernatural.

GhostsandghosthuntingisespeciallyprevalentinAmericabecauseoftheTVshowsGhost
Hunters,Radfordsays.Thereisanincredibleinfluenceofthesesocalledrealityshowson
modernculture.Peoplehavebeenlookinginsomefashionforghostsforwellovera
hundredyears.Theresnothingnewaboutghosthunting.
VI.Homer,Fuseli,andSirIsaacNewton
Ghostlyexperienceshavebeencapturedinliteraturesincesometimearound1200BCin
Homersepicpoemsthe
Iliad
and
Odyssey.
Inapassagefromthepoems

Homerwrites:

Thereappearedtohim[Achilles]theghost(psykhe)ofunhappyPatroklosallinhis
likenessforstature,andlovelyeyes,andvoice,andworesuchclothingasPatrokloshad
wornonhisbody.Theghostcameandstoodoverhisheadandspokeawordtohim:
Yousleep,AkhilleusyouhaveforgottenmebutyouwerenotcarelessofmewhenI
lived,butonlyindeath.Burymeasquicklyasmaybe,letmepassthroughthegatesof
[Hades](pylaiAidao).Thesouls(psykhai),theimages(eidla)ofdeadmen,holdmeata
distance,andwillnotletmecrosstheriverandmingleamongthem,butIwanderasIam
by[Hades]houseofthewidegates(eurypylesAidosdma).AndIcalluponyouin
sorrow,givemeyourhandnolongershallIcomebackfromdeath,onceyougivememy
riteofburning.

Inthepassage,Homeressentiallydescribestheghostasitstillexistsinbelieftoday.Achillesis
hauntedbytheghostofPatroklos,whoappearsashedidinhislife.PatroklostellsAchillesthat
hewillcontinuetohaunthimifAchillesdoesnotprovidehimwiththeproperburialneededfor
himtopassthroughthegatesofHades,theancientgreekgodoftheunderworld.Againinthe
poem,Homerdescribesavapor,gibberingandwhiningintotheearth.

Thesupernaturalfounditswayintoanotherformofartin1781,whentheSwissoilpainter
HenryFuseliproduced
TheNightmare.
Thepaintingillustratesawomaninthemidstofabad
dream,withagoblinfiguresittingonherstomachandahorseheadedcreaturepeeringather
frombehindhercurtain.Theimage,whichwasconsideredprofoundlyhauntingatthetime
andstilldepictswhatistodayconsideredsleepparalysis.Itoccurswhensomeoneisawaken
betweenlightsleepandREMsleep,anditcausestheirbraintoconfusethehallucinatory
imageryassociatedwithlightsleepandtheparalysisassociatedwithREMsleep.

18

WhowouldveguessedthatSirIsaacNewtonwasarguablythegreatestcatalystbehindthree
centuriesofinvestigationintoparanormalphenomenons?Newtonslawsdemonstratedthatthe
naturalworldwasmeasurableandquantifiable,thusproducingafascinationwiththeundeniable
linkbetweenmysticismandscientificinquiry.

Amongthefirstrecordedtheoriesofparanormalorsupernaturaloccurrencestookplaceinthe
lateeighteenthcentury,whereanastrophysicistnamedFranzMesmerdevelopedacultfollowing
whobelievedMesmerhadclairvoyantabilities.Clairvoyanceisafrenchtermmeaningclear
seeing,andprimarilyreferstothetransmittalofinformationthroughobjectsoreventsbeyond
thetypicaluseofsenses.Withinafewdecades,asimilarfollowingwasformedaroundthe
thenmythicalconceptofelectromagnetism.Thistimeperiodsawanunmistakableandcomplex
linkbeingformedbetweenscienceandreligion.

Soon,Newtonsevidencethatthenaturalworldcouldbeconfirmedthroughtheempirical
methodwasexpandeduponasspiritualismrepresentedthebeliefthatthehumansoulcouldbe
measuredinthesameway.Themid1800semergenceofspiritualismwaswhatledtothefirst
recordedsances.Peoplewhowishedtospeaktotheirlostlovedoneswouldhiresomeonewho
wasbelievedtohaveectoplasmasubstancewhichenabledthemtointeractwiththespirit
worldbuttherewasnophysicalevidenceofthatperson'sjourneyortheirability.Doubtsof
thereliabilityofmediumsledtothefirstknownparanormalresearchorganization.

TheCambridgeGhostClubandtheGhostClubinLondon,foundedin1851and1862
respectively,startedoutinvestigatingmediumsbeforebridgingintoreportsofparanormal
occurrences.Whiletheseparanormalunitsprimarygoalwastoverifyanyinstancesoflegitimate
paranormaloccurrences,theysimultaneouslyexposedmanyofthemediumstheyinvestigatedas
fraudulent.

In1882,paranormalinvestigatingtookafurthersteptowardsthemainstreamwhenaseriesof
leadingscientistsatthetimeestablishedTheSocietyforPsychicalResearch(SPR)inLondon.
Thegroupwasimmediatelyviewedascredible,thoughtheyweresubjecttoafairbitof
controversythemselves.In1926,thefounderoftheLaboratoryofPsychicalResearchin
London,HarryPrice,wasthesubjectofamutinybyothermembersoftheSPRwhodisagreed
withhismethodology.

Thesesamecontroversiesthatplaguedthefieldinthe19thand20thcenturyarestilllargely
evidenttoday.Themesofquestionablemethodologyandfraudulentclaimsarestilldominantin
theworldofparanormalinvestigationstothisday.Theworldwidewebishometothousands
andthousandsofamateurghosthuntersandparanormalinvestigators.Whilesomerefuseto
acceptpaymentandonlyinvestigatewhentheirservicesarerequested,othersarestrictlyfor

19

commercialpurposes.Fraudisnotexclusivelyevidentontheendoftheinvestigatorseither,as
therearenumerouscasesofthosewhorequesttheseservicesfalsifyingtheirownclaims.
VII.GhostsCanHelp
Itssafetosaythatmanypeoplearoundtheworldwouldbehavedifferentlyiftheythoughtallof
theghostsfromhellwerefreetowandertheEarthforoneentiremonthoutofeachyear.In
SouthernChina,analternatinglunarmonthinthesummeriscalledghostmonth,andthisis
exactlywhattheybelieve.Asaresult,peoplearesignificantlylesslikelytoparticipatein
unnecessaryriskyactivitiesduringthistime.

UsingTaiwansmortalitydataonunintentionaldrowningdeathsfrom1981to2005,agroupof
researcherswasabletoconfirmthistheory.Theaveragenumberofunintentionaldrowning
deathsduringghostmonthswas1.42,1.37,and1.03foreachofthethreemonthswhereghost
monthcanfall(July,August,andSeptember).Innonghostmonthsofthosesamethreemonths,
thenumberswere1.75,1.68,and1.13allofwhicharenotablyhigherthantheirghostmonth
counterpart.

Skepticsliketomaketheargumentthatparanormalbeliefsoftenhaveacorrelationwithlower
education,intelligence,andstatus.Whattheyfailtoacknowledge,onthecontrary,isthe
correlationbetweenparanormalbeliefsandpositiveattributesinaperson.

In1975,M.L.Moonconductedapollthatultimatelyrevealedbeliefinextrasensory
perceptioninsimplerterms,psychicabilitiestobegreateramongartiststhannonartists.
Thisrevealsacorrelationbetweensupernaturalbeliefsandcreativemindedpeople.Throughthe
lastfivedecades,anumberofdifferentsurveysandpollshavereinforcedthislinkbetween
creativityandbeliefintheparanormal.

Ontheotherhand,studieshavefoundacorrelationbetweenparanormalbeliefsandmore
damningpersonalityqualities.Amongthemostnotoriousistheassociationbetweenbeliefinthe
paranormalandpsychopathologicaltraitssuchasaffectivedisorder,schizophrenia,and
manicdepression.Similarreportsfindcorrelationbetweenparanormalbeliefanddissociative
behaviorspawningfromtraumaticchildhoodexperiences.

AnotherstudyperformedbyJochenMuschandKatjaEhrenbergattheUniversityofBonnin
Germanysuggestsacorrelationbetweenlowprobabilisticreasoningskillsandbeliefinthe
paranormal.Itisaconceptinlinewiththeexampleofapairoffriendswhobelievetheysharea
telepathyduetotheirtendencytopickupthephoneatthesametimestocalleachother.Those
twofriendssimpleignoreallofthetimestheycalleachotherwherethiscoincidencedoesnot
happen,andinsteadonlyconsiderthetimesthatitdoes.

20

VIII.MediaPortrayalsoftheParanormal
Themediasdepictionofghostshaschangeddrasticallyoverthepastfivedecades.DavidJ.
Hesshighlightsthedifferencebetween1963s
TheHaunting
and

1989s
Always
treatmentof
ghostlyentities.Intheformer,theghostsareunseen,occultforcesthatcometolifeatnight,
whereasinthelatter,Spielbergintroducestheideaoftheghostbeingamanwhohasbeen
killed.Theghostin
Always
isconsideredaveryhumanfigurewhosespiritistrappedonthe
earthadepictionverysimilartomoderndayinterpretationsofspiritsandghosts.

TheExorcist
isafilmthatcannotgounmentionedinaconversationaboutHollywoodandthe
paranormal.Thismoviepresentedthemoderndayhorrorfilminterpretationofspiritsasbeing
capableofpossessingalivinghuman'sbodyandwreakinghavocinthisway.Thisfilm,along
with
Poltergeist,
alsoplayoutamoraldramaofgoodandevilcircledaroundtheissueof
respectfultreatmentofthosewhohavedeceased.

AmityvilleHorror
from1979isalsolargelycreditedwithexplosionofghostculturearoundthe
UnitedStates.Thisislargelybecauseittakesatraditionalfamilyscene,veryrelatabletomany
ofitsviewers,andturnsitintoanabsolutenightmare.In1984,
Ghostbusters
wasoneofthefirst
paranormalrelatedfilmsnotonlytoapproachthesituationfromalighterangle,butalsoto
utilizeanAlistactorinBillMurray.

Theshow
GhostHunters
launchedontheSciFichannelin2004tonearimmediatesuccess.It
wasaveragingjustunder3millionviewersbyonlyitsthirdseason.TheSciFichannelanda
numberofotherchannels(includingA&E,Biography,DiscoveryChannel,andtheTravel
Channel)havelaunchedtheirownsubsequentparanormalinvestigationtelevisionshows
followingthemodelsetby
GhostHunters
.Theseshowshavebroughtparanormalinvestigating
intothemedialimelight,asithassincebeenfeaturedinnotablenewspaperssuchas
Washington
Post
andNewarks
StarLedger.

Thecultivationtheoryisapopularmediacommunicationstheorymeanttorevealthepower
televisionprogrammingcanhaveovercultivatingviewersperceptionsofreality.Underthis
theory,paranormalrelatedprogrammingwouldinfluenceitsaudience'sopinionsonthe
paranormal.

Ascientificstudyconductedin1994foundthatexposuretoanepisodeofatelevisionseries
aboutparanormalinvestigationsledparticipantstoexpressgreaterbeliefinsupernaturaland
paranormalactivity.Additionally,thestudyrevealedthatadisclaimerclaimingthattheshow
wasbasedontrueincidentsendedupreducingthesebeliefs.

21

IX.ParapsychologyandPseudoscience
AccordingtoauthorRichardWiseman,ProfessorofthePublicUnderstandingofPsychologyat
theUniversityofHertfordshireintheUnitedKingdom,beliefinparanormalphenomenacan
revealallsortsofthingsaboutaperson'sbehavior,beliefs,andbrain.Wisemanhasconducted
aseriesofexperimentsacrosstheU.K.,thoughheisnotinterestedinwhetherparanormalor
psychicrelationshipsexistheisinterestedinwhypeoplecontinuetobelievethattheyexist
despitealackofscientificorempiricalevidence.

WisemaneffectivelydebunksthepopularStoneTapeTheorywhenhearguesthat,firstand
foremost,itisbasedonafictionalpiece,aneponymousplay.Ontopofthatthereisnophysical
evidencethatprovestheStoneTapeTheory,orthatbuildingsarecapableofstoringmemories
andreplayingthem.Muchlikeanyotherwidelydebatedtopic,theanswerisstillfarfrom
definitiveineitherdirection.Inthe1950s,theformerPresidentoftheSocietyforPhysical
Research,G.W.Lambert,proposedthattherecordingwasnotstoredinthewalls,butrather
transmittedasaresultoftheshiftingearthandwaterbeneaththebuildingsfoundation.

Reminiscentofglobalwarming,whereonesideoftheargumentisalwaysdesperatetooutdothe
other,physicalresearcherTonyCornellspentthemidtolate1900sworkingtodisprove
Lambertstheory.Heobtainedtherightstoaforeclosedhouseandattachedavibratingmachine
tooneofthehouses.Cornellthenplanted13testobjectsaroundthehouse,andturnedonthe
machineatvariousdegreesofintensitytoseeiftheobjectswouldmove.Whentheobjectsfailed
tomove(ormovedonlyveryslightly),Cornelltookthisasevidencethattheminutevibrations
takingplaceunderneaththefoundationcouldnotpossiblyattributeforparanormaloccurrences.

AnothertheorythatspeaksoutagainsttheparanormalisthatofNeuropsychologistMichael
Persinger.Persingerbelievesthatparanormalexperiencescanbetheresultoftemporarybrain
malfunctionsthatcanbeinducedbyweakmagneticwavesbeingtransmittedtothehumanbrain.
Persingerconductedanexperimentinwhichastudentsitsinachairfor40minuteswhilea
helmetproducesweakmagneticfieldsaroundvariousareasoftheirhead.80percentofthetime,
studentsindicateatleastone,ifnotmultiple,experiencesofsensingapresence,vividimages,
oddsmells,beingsexuallyaroused,orcomingfacetofacewithGod.

Likemostconvincingghosttheories,Persingerswaseventuallydisprovedaswell.Helentout
hishelmettoateamofSwedishpsychologists,buttheyusedittotestiftherewasaplacebo
effecttakingplace.Indeedtherewas,astwoofthethreeparticipantswhoreportedintense
spiritualexperienceswerenotbeingexposedtothemagneticfieldsatthetime.Additionally,
22participantsreportedmoresubtleexperiences,butthecoilswereoffforhalfofthem.

22

Examplessuchastheseareevidentthroughoutthehistoryofspiritualismandparanormalbeliefs.
Forthisreason,authorSergioDellaSalacitesparanormalbeliefsastheproductofignorance,
gullibilityandwishfulthinking.Atothertimes,itisdeceptionthatleadspeopletobelieveinthe
paranormalinDavidBrewsters1832book
Lettersonnaturalmagic
,herevealedthattyrants
couldmanipulateacoustics,mechanics,andopticstocreatetheillusionofpower.

Theskeptic'sapproachisrootedinthefactthatthereisnoscientific,mathematical,or
quantifiabledatathatverifiestheexistenceofghosts.Whereparanormalresearchersand
believerspointtotheirinstinctsandthingsbeyondexplanation,skepticsbegforempirical
evidence.Skepticsrefertoparanormalresearch,eventhatwhichisbasedonrealdata,as
pseudoscience.Bydefinition,pseudosciencereferstoacollectionofbeliefsorpractices
mistakenlyregardedasbeingbasedonscientificmethod.

BenjaminRadfordhasanotherimportantjobonewhichwasemittedearlier.Radfordsprimary
workisasthedeputyeditorof
SkepticalInquirerMagazine
.He,alongwithanotherlargechunk
ofthepopulation,hasasystemofbeliefsandtheoriesthatgoagainsttheaverageparanormal
investigator.ThethingthatseparatesRadfordfromyournormalnonbelievingskepticoratheist
isthathedoesnotexplicitlybelieveinghostsornotbelieveinghostsmadeevidentbythe
factthatheis,himself,aparanormalinvestigator.Radfordisalmostexclusivelyinterestedin
findingempiricaldatathatlegitimatelyconfirms(ordenies)theexistenceofparanormalentities.

Radfordhasnoproblemrattlingoffaslewofreasonswhyhethinksmostclaimsofparanormal
activityareentirelywithoutvalidity.AlthoughRadfordpreviouslycitedpersonalexperienceas
theleadingcauseofbeliefintheparanormal,healsoseesitastheleastcrediblesourceof
evidence.

Theresnumerousexamplesofeyewitnessaccountsofaneventsimplynotbeingreliable,
Radfordsays.Ifyoutalktopsychologists,andpolicedetectives,weknowthateyewitness
accountsarenotreliable.Ifsomeonestagesarobberyinfrontof100people,youmightgetten
differentaccounts.

BenjaminRadfordisconfidentthattheinfluxofparanormalrelatedtelevisionshowsis
massivelyresponsiblefortheincreaseinparanormalresearchgroupsorparanormal
investigators.Thereare29groupsinRhodeIslandalone,accordingtotheOnlineParanormal
SocietyDirectory.Radfordalsofeelsthatthemediaattentionhasledtoasharpincreasein
pseudoscientificinvestigationsandphonyclaims.

23

Heexplainsthattheshow
GhostHunters
,basedonR.I.sownTheAtlanticParanormalSociety
(T.A.P.S),servesasamodelforhundredsifnotthousandsofamateurinvestigators.In
fact,T.A.P.Swebsiteistheselfproclaimedmostvisitedparanormalwebsiteintheworld.

ItsnotnecessarilyforthebetterthatpeoplechooseT.A.P.Sastheirmodelforparanormal
investigations.YouTubeandvariousonlineoutletsarelitteredwithreportedexamplesofphony
interactionswithparanormalentitieson
GhostHunters.
Perhapsthemostfamousofthese
examplesisavideowhichclearlyshowswhatlookslikeanattachedwirecreatingtheillusionof
somethingtuggingononeoftheinvestigatorsjackets.

Theseshowsarespecificallyforentertainmentandoftentimestheyrescripted.Itastonishes
methatin2015anythingpeoplethinktheyseeontvisreal,Radfordsays.

TheuseofEMFReaders,infraredcameras,andotherequipmentdoesnotqualifyasscientific
indicatorstotheskepticandscientificcommunities.Manypeoplewithinthesecommunitiesare
opentotheideaofthesupernatural,butsimplyrefusetoacceptituntiltheycanseeconcrete
evidenceofsuchthings.

Whileskepticstypicallydoextensiveresearchintoparanormalrelatedliteraturetoreachthe
conclusionsthattheydo,believersaresignificantlylessinclinedtodotheinverseofthis.
Consideringtherearetypicallyoutsidefactorsleadingtoaperson'sconclusionthatghostsdo
exist,suchastheirreligionortheirupbringing,theydonotwanttofindliteraturethatarguesin
theotherdirection.

Radfordexplainsthatthereisnotastrongorunifiedresponsefromtheghosthuntingcommunity
abouthisskepticmindedarticlesbecausetheychoosetoignorehimaltogether.

Idontseemyselfinmalpositionofthem,Iseemyselfastryingtohelpthemout.Ithinkgofor
it,huntghosts.butusescience!doitinawaythatsuseful,Radfordsays.Imnotsayingthat
peoplearestupid,thereisjustverylowscienceliteracyintheworld.Imtryingtobringgood
scienceintoparanormalinvestigating.
X.The(Unmarked)GraveofJonathanBuckland
TomgetsbackintothenavyblueVolvoS60andthenextstophemakesisashortwayupRams
TailRoadinthesamecemeterywherethevehiclewasparked.HepointsoutthegravesofOlney
Potter,OrraPotter,WilliamPotter,andanumberofotherkeyplayersinthetaleoftheRamtail
factory.ThegraveofDollyCole,anotherfamousR.I.hauntingfromthesurroundingarea,isin
thesamesectionofcemetery.

24

Next,Tomtravelsfurtherdowntheroad,aboutonemile,andstopsinasmallintersectioninthe
middleofadirtpathinthewoods.Heseparateshimselffromthepathandbeginstoclimband
traversethrougharocky,hillyareacompletewithleaves,roots,branches,andotherobstacles.
Aftercrossingadriedupswampareathatabsorbsnomorethanhalfaninchofhisshoe,hestops
onthetopofahill.

Onthehillistworowsofmarkedstonepillarswithmetalrailingslinkingthemalltogether
denotedbyasignthatreadsHistoricCemetery18.Despitetheclearsignage,itwouldbe
nexttoimpossibletostumbleuponthecemeterywithoutlookingforit.Insidethesmall,
barredoffstructureisthegravesoftheWalkerfamily.TowardsthebackoftheplotsisPeleg
Walkersgravestone,whichreadsLifehowshort,eternityhowlong.

AftersufficientlytakingintheWalkergraveyardplotandtakingafewpicturesonhiscell
phone,TomtreksbacktotheVolvoandheadstohisfinaldestinationthegraveofJonathan
Buckland.Afterdrivingdownalongwoodenpathwithheavywoodsonbothsidesand
significantlymorenotrespassingsignsthantheRamtailpath,DAgastinoyellsan
indistinguishableexclamationatanondescriptopeninginthewoods.

Hehopsoutofthecarwiththeagility(andexcitement)ofachildandbeginsahalfjog,
halfsprintintothewoodstosurveythearea.Asherunshetakesaheadfirsttumbleintothe
thicklayerofleaves,buthequicklygetsbacktohisfeetandkeepsmovingatthesamepace.
Afternearlyfiveminutes,hereturnstothecarandexplainsthathefoundHistoricCemetery
25justashortwayintothewoods.Onlyonegravestonewasrecognizableoneofthelater
ownersofthefactorybutheknowsfromhisextensiveresearchthatBucklandandhisfather,
whowasaJusticeofthePeace,areburiedthere.

EventhoughthejourneydidnotultimatelyrevealanynewresultsforDAgastino,his
excitementovertheBucklandgraveispalpable.Tohim,itisjustanotherimportantpieceina
puzzlethathehasbeenpatchingtogetherformorethantwodecades.

Ineedtoknowmore,soIcantbeafraid.DAgastinoexplains.Iwanttoknowwhyits
happening,morethananything.IgetmorebummedoutwhenIdontgetanswersthanIget
afraid.Youcanonlygobywhatyougot.

25

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