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'''Charles Henry Honorton''' (February 5, 1946 - November 4, 1992) was an American [[parapsychologist]]. |
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| birth_place = [[Deer River, Minnesota]] |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|02|05|df=y}} |
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|1992|11|04|1946|02|05|df=y}} |
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| occupation = [[Parapsychologist]] |
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Honorton was |
'''Charles Henry Honorton''' (February 5, 1946 – November 4, 1992) was an American [[Parapsychology|parapsychologist]] and was one of the leaders of a collegial group of researchers who were determined to apply established scientific research methods to the examination of what they called "anomalous information transfer" ([[extrasensory perception]]) and other phenomena associated with the "mind/body problem"—the idea that mind might, at least in some respects, have a physical existence independent of the body.<ref name="obit">{{cite news|author = Emily Williams Cook|title = Obituary: Charles Honorton|work = The Independent |date = November 19, 1992}}</ref> |
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== Biography == |
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Honorton's research primarily focussed on [[Extrasensory perception|ESP]] phenomenon and he claimed that the purpose of his study was to bring the 'Mind-body' problem out of the realm of philosophy and into the realm of science.<ref name="obit"/> He believed that the various findings of parapsychologists showed a systematic process which was the system onto which ESP and [[Psychokinesis|PK]] (which together are called '[[Psi (parapsychology)|psi]]') are built. |
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Over several decades, Honorton conducted many experiments, the most famous and significant of which involved the use of the [[Ganzfeld experiment]] technique for creating a state of sensory deprivation.<ref>Philip John Tyson, Dai Jones, Jonathan Elcock. (2011). "Psychology in Social Context: Issues and Debates". Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 199-200.</ref> His hypothesis was that the information "channel," or transfer mechanism, in ESP was "weak" and easily diluted or drowned out by normal sensory input. |
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To that end Honorton conducted many ESP experiments, both hypothetical and in the real world, which attempted to focus on replicating data which had been collected by other scientists previously.<ref name="obit"/><ref>{{cite news|author = Dr. Julian de Bruyn Kops|title = FORETELLING PHONE CALLS ISN'T WITCHCRAFT|quote = |publisher = Idaho Falls Post Register|date = February 20, 1994|url = |accessdate = October 29, 2010}}</ref> Honorton's ultimate goal was to produce a method which could easily detect extended mention functioning. Much of Honorton's work also concentrated on various states of consciousness and how the brain functioned under abnormal conditions.<ref name="obit"/> |
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| ⚫ | Honorton rejected the term [[parapsychology]], instead preferring to approach extra-sensory perception as one would any other area of psychophysics, "for the first time in history, we have begun to forge an empirical approach to one of the most profound and ancient of mysteries, the nature of mind and its relationship to the physical world."<ref name="obit"/> |
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During the course of his research Honorton created the [[Ganzfield technique]], a mild sensory-deprevation technique designed to refocus the mind inwards.<ref>{{cite news|author = Lorn Macintyre|title = The man who is developing new senses for the new century|quote = |publisher = The Herald|date = January 6, 1993|url = |accessdate = October 29, 2010}}</ref> Honorton produced a lot of his experimental evidence for ESP using this technique. However, after a 1985 debate between Honoton and one of his critics, the procedure was changed in line with peer-reviewed guidelines. After the process had been changed, Honorton was still able to achieve the same results as he had previously. <ref>{{cite news|author = Susan Blackmore|title = Do you believe in psychic phenomena? Are they likely to be able to explain consciousness?; Consciousness; Conference; Towards a New Science of the Mind|quote = |publisher = The Times Higher Education Supplement|date = April 5, 1996|url = |accessdate = October 29, 2010}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Honorton was a research fellow at the Institute for Parapsychology in [[Durham, North Carolina]], from 1966 to 1967, a research associate, then senior research associate, then director of Research Division of Parapsychology and Psychophysics at [[Maimonides Medical Center]] in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York (state)|New York]], from 1967 to 1979. After that he became the director of Psychophysical Research Laboratories in the Forrestal Research Center located in Princeton, [[New Jersey]], from 1979 to 1989,<ref>{{cite news|author = John Palmer|title = Why Is Science Spooked by 'psi'?|newspaper = The Washington Post|date = March 8, 1987}}</ref> and from there he moved on to become a researcher at [[Edinburgh University]] from 1991 until his death.<ref>{{cite news|author = Susan Watts|title = The American Association for the Advancement of Science: Magician presents evidence of ESP|work = The Independent|date = February 15, 1993}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Honorton rejected the term [[parapsychology]], instead preferring to |
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In 1971, Felicia Parise, an American psychic, allegedly moved a pill bottle across a kitchen counter by [[psychokinesis]]. Her feats were endorsed by Honorton. Science writer [[Martin Gardner]] wrote Parise had "bamboozled" Honorton by moving the bottle by an invisible thread stretched between her hands.<ref>[[Kendrick Frazier]]. (1991). "The Hundredth Monkey: And Other Paradigms of the Paranormal". Prometheus Books. p. 163. {{ISBN|978-0-87975-655-0}}</ref><ref>[[Gordon Stein]]. (1996). "The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal". Prometheus Books. p. 384. {{ISBN|978-1573920216}} "Felicia Parise thoroughly bamboozled parapsychologist Charles Honorton by using invisible thread stretched between her hands when she pushed a pill bottle across her kitchen counter. Had Honorton known anything about thread magic (books about it are sold in magic supply houses, along with strong thread so fine that it cannot seen in bright daylight) he would have examined Felicia’s hands while the bottle was gliding."</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Honorton was a research fellow at the Institute for Parapsychology [[Durham |
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A review published by [[Daryl Bem]] and Honorton (posthumously), "Does Psi Exist? Replicable Evidence for an Anomalous Process of Information Transfer"<ref>Bem, D. J., & Honorton, C. (1994). Does psi exist? Replicable evidence for an anomalous process of information transfer. Psychological Bulletin, 115, 4-18.</ref> in 1994 provided a discussion of the pairs evaluation of Ganzfeld research, criticisms, refinements and implications. The review was criticized by [[Richard Wiseman]], [[Terence Hines]], [[Ray Hyman]] among others who identified a number of errors in the piece which cast considerable doubt on the scholarship and conclusions argued.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Does Psi Exist? Lack of Replication of an Anomalous Process of Information Transfer | author=Milton, Wiseman|journal=Psychological Bulletin | year=1999 | volume= 125 | issue= 4 | pages=387–391 | doi=10.1037/0033-2909.125.4.387 | pmid=10414223 | last2=Wiseman | first2=R}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/new_analyses_raise_doubts_about_replicability_of_esp_findings/| title=New Analyses Raise Doubts About Replicability of ESP Findings | author=Scott O. Lilienfeld | journal=Skeptical Inquirer |date=November–December 1999}}</ref><ref>[[Terence Hines]]. (2003). "Pseudoscience and the Paranormal". Prometheus Books. p. 138.</ref><ref>[[Ray Hyman]]. "Evaluating Parapsychological Claims" in Robert J. Sternberg, Henry L. Roediger, Diane F. Halpern. (2007). "Critical Thinking in Psychology". Cambridge University Press. pp. 216-231.</ref> |
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==Criticism== |
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Many statisticians argued that the meta-analysis carried out by Honorton to try and prove an underlying pattern behind parasychological studies was ill-conceived and ignored basic rules of mathematics.<ref name="obit"/><ref>{{cite news|author = John Palmer|title = Pink Noise and Dice|quote = |publisher = The Washington Post|date = March 8, 1987|url = |accessdate = October 29, 2010}}</ref> Honorton continued to claim that his meta-analysis, developed in the 1980s, conclusively proved that paraspychological research was replicable.<ref name="obit"/> <ref>{{cite news|author = |title = Tuning in to a presence of mind|quote = |publisher = The Scotsman|date = March 27, 1993|url = |accessdate = October 29, 2010}}</ref> |
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Other critics have stated that the Ganzfeld technique is flawed as subjects still have partial awareness of their surroundings and as such could cheat during an ESP test.<ref>{{cite news|author = BRIAN D. JOSEPHSON|title = Psychic shock; Books|quote = |publisher = The Times Higher Education Supplement|date = December 15, 1995|url = |accessdate = October 29, 2010}}</ref> |
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==Further reading== |
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{{Parapsychology}} |
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*[[Paul Kurtz]]. (1985). ''A Skeptic's Handbook of Parapsychology''. Prometheus Books. |
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*[[Koneru Ramakrishna Rao]]. (1994). ''Charles Honorton and the Impoverished State of Skepticism: Essays on a Parapsychological Pioneer''. McFarland. |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = February 5, 1946 |
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| DATE OF DEATH = November 4, 1992 |
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[[Category:Psychonautics researchers]] |
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Latest revision as of 19:19, 14 September 2023
Charles Henry Honorton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 February 1946 |
| Died | 4 November 1992 (aged 46) |
| Occupation | Parapsychologist |
Charles Henry Honorton (February 5, 1946 – November 4, 1992) was an American parapsychologist and was one of the leaders of a collegial group of researchers who were determined to apply established scientific research methods to the examination of what they called "anomalous information transfer" (extrasensory perception) and other phenomena associated with the "mind/body problem"—the idea that mind might, at least in some respects, have a physical existence independent of the body.[1]
Biography
[edit]Over several decades, Honorton conducted many experiments, the most famous and significant of which involved the use of the Ganzfeld experiment technique for creating a state of sensory deprivation.[2] His hypothesis was that the information "channel," or transfer mechanism, in ESP was "weak" and easily diluted or drowned out by normal sensory input.
Honorton rejected the term parapsychology, instead preferring to approach extra-sensory perception as one would any other area of psychophysics, "for the first time in history, we have begun to forge an empirical approach to one of the most profound and ancient of mysteries, the nature of mind and its relationship to the physical world."[1]
Honorton was a research fellow at the Institute for Parapsychology in Durham, North Carolina, from 1966 to 1967, a research associate, then senior research associate, then director of Research Division of Parapsychology and Psychophysics at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, from 1967 to 1979. After that he became the director of Psychophysical Research Laboratories in the Forrestal Research Center located in Princeton, New Jersey, from 1979 to 1989,[3] and from there he moved on to become a researcher at Edinburgh University from 1991 until his death.[4]
In 1971, Felicia Parise, an American psychic, allegedly moved a pill bottle across a kitchen counter by psychokinesis. Her feats were endorsed by Honorton. Science writer Martin Gardner wrote Parise had "bamboozled" Honorton by moving the bottle by an invisible thread stretched between her hands.[5][6]
A review published by Daryl Bem and Honorton (posthumously), "Does Psi Exist? Replicable Evidence for an Anomalous Process of Information Transfer"[7] in 1994 provided a discussion of the pairs evaluation of Ganzfeld research, criticisms, refinements and implications. The review was criticized by Richard Wiseman, Terence Hines, Ray Hyman among others who identified a number of errors in the piece which cast considerable doubt on the scholarship and conclusions argued.[8][9][10][11]
Honorton died in on November 4, 1992, of a heart attack.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Emily Williams Cook (November 19, 1992). "Obituary: Charles Honorton". The Independent.
- ^ Philip John Tyson, Dai Jones, Jonathan Elcock. (2011). "Psychology in Social Context: Issues and Debates". Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 199-200.
- ^ John Palmer (March 8, 1987). "Why Is Science Spooked by 'psi'?". The Washington Post.
- ^ Susan Watts (February 15, 1993). "The American Association for the Advancement of Science: Magician presents evidence of ESP". The Independent.
- ^ Kendrick Frazier. (1991). "The Hundredth Monkey: And Other Paradigms of the Paranormal". Prometheus Books. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-87975-655-0
- ^ Gordon Stein. (1996). "The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal". Prometheus Books. p. 384. ISBN 978-1573920216 "Felicia Parise thoroughly bamboozled parapsychologist Charles Honorton by using invisible thread stretched between her hands when she pushed a pill bottle across her kitchen counter. Had Honorton known anything about thread magic (books about it are sold in magic supply houses, along with strong thread so fine that it cannot seen in bright daylight) he would have examined Felicia’s hands while the bottle was gliding."
- ^ Bem, D. J., & Honorton, C. (1994). Does psi exist? Replicable evidence for an anomalous process of information transfer. Psychological Bulletin, 115, 4-18.
- ^ Milton, Wiseman; Wiseman, R (1999). "Does Psi Exist? Lack of Replication of an Anomalous Process of Information Transfer". Psychological Bulletin. 125 (4): 387–391. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.125.4.387. PMID 10414223.
- ^ Scott O. Lilienfeld (November–December 1999). "New Analyses Raise Doubts About Replicability of ESP Findings". Skeptical Inquirer.
- ^ Terence Hines. (2003). "Pseudoscience and the Paranormal". Prometheus Books. p. 138.
- ^ Ray Hyman. "Evaluating Parapsychological Claims" in Robert J. Sternberg, Henry L. Roediger, Diane F. Halpern. (2007). "Critical Thinking in Psychology". Cambridge University Press. pp. 216-231.
Further reading
[edit]- Paul Kurtz. (1985). A Skeptic's Handbook of Parapsychology. Prometheus Books.
- Koneru Ramakrishna Rao. (1994). Charles Honorton and the Impoverished State of Skepticism: Essays on a Parapsychological Pioneer. McFarland.
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