Are Ghosts Discarnate Entities?
Alternate Hypotheses

By Dr. D. K. Moore

Many people subscribe to the belief that a ghost is a discarnate entity that has never left its earthly existence or perhaps has come back to haunt the living or a particular location. Popular belief (perhaps in part, because of the manner in which Hollywood has portrayed the subject of ghosts) is that the ghost exists—albeit in some ethereal form—in our world, has some form of consciousness and having such, chooses whom and where to haunt. But, is a “discarnate entity” the only possible explanation for what people report as ghostly phenomena?

If we can dismiss the notion that the individual reporting the ghost wasn’t trying to perpetrate a hoax, is of sound mind and didn’t grossly misperceive the experience, several “non-entity” alternative hypotheses still remain as possible explanations for these phenomena. Just what are these alternative hypotheses?

One alternative hypothesis is that the “ghost experience” is caused by the interaction of some infrequent/sporadic, external stimuli with an individual’s neuropsychological makeup. Probably the most prolific researcher of this hypothesis has been Dr. Michael Persinger. Over the past three decades, Dr. Persinger has investigated the relationship between elevated/anomalous electromagnetic fields and individuals’ reports of ghostly experiences. He reports that for some individuals, unusual electromagnetic or geomagnetic fields precipitate the perception of a ghost. This perception can encompass tactile, visual, auditory and “sense of presence” experiences as well as emotional states, such as fear.

Low frequency sound waves (around 19 Hertz), which are below the threshold of hearing, have also been shown to precipitate a feeling of presence and the perception of shadowy images in the periphery of vision. The association of low frequency sound waves with ghostly perception was first noted by an engineer by the name of Vic Tandy after he unexpectedly experienced ghostly phenomena in his lab. Subsequent research by Tandy in other settings where naturally-occurring low frequency sound waves were found yielded similar results. Again, not everyone may respond with the same perceptual experience. Nevertheless, this is another hypothesis that must be considered as an explanation of ghostly phenomena.

“Trace/telepathic” hypotheses have also been proposed to explain the ghost experience. According to these hypotheses, images are somehow “imprinted” on a location—perhaps by a traumatic death or emotionally-loaded experience an individual had while still living. When conditions are right, the trace is replayed and/or received much like a movie or audio clip. Those sensitive to the lingering “telepathic charge” (as H.H. Price hypothesized) can receive and interpret the charge as a ghostly encounter.

Frequently ghostly visitations are reported to have occurred when one is falling asleep or waking from sleep. Visual and auditory “imagery” as well as tactile sensations are not uncommon in these pre and post dream-states (hypnagogia and hypnopompia, respectively) and have been discussed in medical literature for years. Was that near-sleep ghostly encounter simply a vivid, but normal dreaming experience?

What about poltergeists? Those “noisy ghosts” that have been reported to make all sorts of thumps, raps and knocks; move furniture; throw items; materialize stones, water and even fire out of thin air. Surely, they are evidence of discarnate entities! Not according to William Roll, an individual who has conducted decades of research on poltergeist phenomena. Roll contends that poltergeist phenomena are unconsciously caused by an individual or living “agent” who is often under some degree of stress or anxiety. Roll has coined the term “Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis” or RSPK to refer to this phenomena.

Dr. Moore is the founder of Albany Ghost Investigators; if you’d like to read more of this article, see our Winter issue.