Shekinah Bennett Freshman Composition 4/25/13

Thesis Statement: By researching the origins, eyewitness accounts, and connections to present day of ESP, knowledge of how it works may be acquired.

What Is ESP? ESP is commonly called the sixth sense. It is beyond the ordinary five senses.

Means to receive information by other means like telepathy, clairvoyance, or precognition.

(Schmeidler)

Origins of ESP
Popularized by American parapsychologist named J.B. Rhine. One of the first to test ESP. First systematic study was done in 1882 after founding of Society for Physical Research.

www.dukemagazine.duke.edu

(Schmeidler)

How it began Tests began as spontaneous accidents. First test subjects known as sensitives, or psychics.

Not tested under laboratory conditions at first.

J.B. Rhine changed and perfected the testing forum.
(Schmeidler)

How its tested

Experiments done by cardguessing. First performed at Duke University in 1930 by J.B. Rhine. Cards consisted of 5 designs now known as ESP symbols.

neurocritic.blogspot.co.uk

(Schmeidler)

How it works
Researcher showed subject all cards at once then flipped them over. Person saw the back of the card without seeing the pictures as tester shuffles cards. Person would guess what picture is on the other side.
mashable.com

(Wiseman and Greening 487)

Why so fascinating? People drawn to idea of knowing the unknown. Also drawn to idea of alternate reality.

Tests began to show positive results of ESP.

(Glausiusz 11)

Who saw it first? Reports of ESP published by the National Opinion Research Council. In 1987 67% of adult Americans believed they had experienced ESP. Percent of believers grew as tests continued.

(Wiseman and Greening 487)

Reactions
People viewed it as a definite phenomenon. Some people feared the tests and what they would result in. People mainly thought it was intriguing.

(Buckland 156)

Test statistics
Subjects were expected to get 0,1,2,3, or 4 trials correct 0 correct = 4% 1 correct = 8% 2 correct = 49% 3 correct = 25%

4 correct = 14%

(Wiseman and Greening 487)

New ways of testing As technology advances, tests are transferred to computer. Subject shown a video clip scenario and tries to out-guess the computer. Video games also used.

(Buckland 156)

ESP today
People use ESP in their everyday lives using their 5 senses. A person can tell when another person is nervous by their actions. Humans specifically designed to respond to each others non-verbal cues.

(Perry 16)

ESP influences T.V.

Investigative mystery shows portray a character that can see the future or something usually unnoticed. Touch The Mentalist

CSI
NCIS

(Glausiusz 11)

How ESP is defined today It is an indirect form of communication. To determine things about others without them making it plain.

A persons non-verbal cues help you to see what they are thinking.

(Perry 16)

Can people read minds?

We can only determine what someone might be thinking through their actions. We can tell when someone is happy, anxious, bored, or excited. There is very little evidence that ESP, in the paranormal sense, occurs.

(Perry 16)

Works Cited 1. Wiseman, Richard, and Emma Greening. "The Mind Machine: A Mass Participation Experiment Into The Possible Existence Of Extra-Sensory Perception." British Journal Of Psychology 93.4 (2002): 487. Business Source Premier. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. Perry, Bruce. "Can Some People Read Minds?." Science World 57.1 (2000): 16. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. Glausiusz, Josie. "Mapping The Mind's Eye." Discover 22.5 (2001): 11. Vocational and Career Collection . Web. 14 Oct. 2012. Schmeidler, Gertrude. "ESP (extrasensory Perception)." The City College, New York, n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. Buckland, Raymond. The Spirit Book: The Encyclopedia of Clairvoyance, Channeling, and Spirit Communication . Detroit: Visible Ink, 2006. Print.

2. 3. 4. 5.