Published by Richard Cohen Books, London, 1995
Bizarre Beliefs
Simon Hoggart and Mike Hutchinson
This book breaks new ground in presenting a skeptical point of view to believers and non-believers of paranormal claims. Profusely illustrated with around 100 photographs and drawings, Bizarre Beliefs is intended to make people think twice about paranormal claims. It stresses the importance of repeatability and that some so-called paranormal claims are complicated psychological illusions which can convince the unwary that something mysterious is at work. Among these subjects are Hypnosis, the Psychic Reading, and Dowsing.
A second group of phenomena actually use these questionable techniques in support of their claims, thus adding to the mystery. Evidence for UFO Abductions is sometimes obtained using hypnosis to uncover the experience. Crop Circle enthusiasts use dowsing to decide whether a circle is real or not, usually reaching the former conclusion.
Then there are claims which can be researched to see whether what is said to have happened, really did happen. The Bermuda Triangle, the Curse of Tutankhamen, and Psychic Detectives are among these.
A fourth group consists of claims using rules which can easily be tested objectively. These are Biorhythms, Graphology, and Astrology, which are only successful when the subjective psychological illusion is allowed to influence the result.
Finally there are anecdotal stories (UFOs, Ghosts and Hauntings, The Loch Ness Monster and Other Elusive Beasts, and Coincidence), natural phenomena (Fire Walking), and ongoing scientific research which has failed to prove ESP beyond question (Psi).
Although the authors admit to being skeptical about these claims, they don’t want readers to blindly follow their thinking but ask them to decide for themselves using the information which Bizarre Beliefs presents to them. If they reach different conclusions, that is fine; at least they’ve been able to do so using information which may have previously been unavailable to them. Regardless of the end result, readers will have a better understanding of the effect that both the psychological illusion and the media have in affecting people’s beliefs and will be better equipped to avoid the pitfalls.
Published by Richard Cohen Books, London, 1995
Published by Prometheus Books, Buffalo, 1997
Available from many good bookshops. If you have trouble obtaining the book I can supply them at the above prices in the UK. Add 10% for surface mail outside the UK. E-mail me at 100023.2355@compuserve.com or mike@hutch.demon.co.uk for further details