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{{Infobox person
'''Charles Henry Honorton''' (February 5, 1946 - November 4, 1992) was an American [[parapsychologist]].
⚫
| name = Charles Henry Honorton
| birth_place = [[Deer River, Minnesota]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|02|05|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1992|11|04|1946|02|05|df=y}}
| death_place =
| occupation = [[Parapsychologist]]
⚫
}}


Honorton was born in [[Deer River, Minnesota]] on February 5, 1946.<ref name="obit">{{cite news|author = EMILY WILLIAMS COOK|title = Obituary: Charles Honorton|quote = |publisher = The Independent |date = November 19, 1992|url = |accessdate = October 29, 2010}}</ref>
'''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>


== Biography ==
Honorton was one of the leaders of a collegial group of researchers, including parapsychologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and physicists who were determined to strictly apply established scientific research methods to the examination of what they called "anomalous information transfer" (extra-sensory 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.


Over several decades, Honorton conducted many experiments, the most famous and significant of which involved the use of the Ganzfeld technique for creating a state of sensory deprivation. His hypothesis was that the information "channel," or transfer mechanism, in ESP was "weak" and easily diluted or drowned out by normal sensory input.
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.

Honorton consistently sought out criticism from scientists in a number of fields in order to perfect his experimental approach. Consequently some of his most dedicated and sophisticated critics ultimately acknowledge the validity of his methodology even when they still hesitated to accept the implications of his findings. R. Hyman, who chaired a National Research Council Report that earlier dismissed parapsychology, said, after reviewing Honorton's autoganzfeld studies, "Honorton's experiments have produced intriguing results. If...independent laboratories can produce similar results with the same relationships and with the same attention to rigorous methodology, then parapsychology may indeed have finally captured its elusive quary" Hyman, R. (1991)Comment, ''Statistical Science'',6(p.392)

An article by Daryl Bem and Charles Honorton, "Does Psi Exist? Replicable Evidence for an Anomalous Process of Information Transfer" provides a thorough discussion of the Ganzfeld research, criticisms, refinements and implications. Psychological Bulletin 1994, Vol. 115. No. 1, 4-18.


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"/>
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"/>


Honorton was a research fellow at the Institute for Parapsychology [[Durham]] [[North Carolina]] from 1966–67, 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. 1967-79. After that he became the Director Psychophysical Research Laboratories in the Forrestal Research Center located in Princeton, [[New Jersey]] from 1979-89<ref>{{cite news|author = John Palmer|title = Why Is Science Spooked by 'psi'?|quote = |publisher = The Washington Post|date = March 8, 1987|url = |accessdate = October 29, 2010}}</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|quote = |publisher = The Independent|date = February 15, 1993|url = |accessdate = October 29, 2010}}</ref>
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>


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>
⚫
He died in on November 4, 1992 of a heart attack.<ref name="obit"/>


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>
==Criticism==


⚫
Honorton died in on November 4, 1992, of a heart attack.<ref name="obit"/>
Some statisticians argued that the meta-analysis carried out by Honorton that supported 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> Others, however, validated his research. <ref>Harris, M. J. & Rosenthall, R. (1988) Human Performance Research: An Overview, Washington, D. C.: National Academy Press</ref>{{request quotation|date=January 2013}}

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== References ==


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==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==Further reading==
{{Parapsychology}}
*[[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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{{Authority control}}


⚫
{{Authority control|VIAF=26288714}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
⚫
| NAME =Honorton, Charles
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = February 5, 1946
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = November 4, 1992
| PLACE OF DEATH =
⚫
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Honorton, Charles}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Honorton, Charles}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:1992 deaths]]
[[Category:1992 deaths]]
[[Category:Duke University faculty]]
[[Category:Duke University faculty]]
[[Category:Parapsychologists]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Psychonautics researchers]]

Latest revision as of 19:19, 14 September 2023

Charles Henry Honorton
Born(1946-02-05)5 February 1946
Deer River, Minnesota
Died4 November 1992(1992-11-04) (aged 46)
OccupationParapsychologist

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]
  1. ^ a b c Emily Williams Cook (November 19, 1992). "Obituary: Charles Honorton". The Independent.
  2. ^ Philip John Tyson, Dai Jones, Jonathan Elcock. (2011). "Psychology in Social Context: Issues and Debates". Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 199-200.
  3. ^ John Palmer (March 8, 1987). "Why Is Science Spooked by 'psi'?". The Washington Post.
  4. ^ Susan Watts (February 15, 1993). "The American Association for the Advancement of Science: Magician presents evidence of ESP". The Independent.
  5. ^ Kendrick Frazier. (1991). "The Hundredth Monkey: And Other Paradigms of the Paranormal". Prometheus Books. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-87975-655-0
  6. ^ 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."
  7. ^ Bem, D. J., & Honorton, C. (1994). Does psi exist? Replicable evidence for an anomalous process of information transfer. Psychological Bulletin, 115, 4-18.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Scott O. Lilienfeld (November–December 1999). "New Analyses Raise Doubts About Replicability of ESP Findings". Skeptical Inquirer.
  10. ^ Terence Hines. (2003). "Pseudoscience and the Paranormal". Prometheus Books. p. 138.
  11. ^ 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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