Wanted: The Poltergeist

Abstract

54 RSPK reports of the Freiburg Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health (IGPP) from 1947 to 1986 were analyzed quantitatively-statistically. A specially developed questionnaire was used to collect the most detailed information possible on the reported phenomena, the poltergeist victims, the focal person, the witnesses, and the investigation and documentation. While Part 1 of this evaluation is devoted to the phenomenology of RSPK phenomena in general, Part 2 focuses on poltergeist victims and focus persons (FPs). The comparison to the phenomenology of RSPK in existing case collections revealed clear similarities, but also striking differences, e. g., regarding the average duration of poltergeist phenomena. Two factors were found via a factor analysis, which were confirmed by a subsequent cluster analysis. The first factor was called the “novelty factor” or “structure factor,” since it only includes items that point to something that is novel, adds to an earlier situation, or introduces structural changes (e. g., “apports,” “penetration,” “graffiti”). The second factor is called “modification factor” or “behavioral factor,” because it is defined by items that describe modifications in the state of objects present (e. g., “objects suddenly disappear,” “cabinets, doors, windows open by themselves”). The analysis of the data on poltergeist victims and FPs showed that they come from all parts of the population. Subjectively, they feel very much burdened by the poltergeist occurrences. Frequently, they are socially isolated after the outbreak. Once the phenomena have faded away, they strongly tend to repress related recollections. 56￰FPs were male. At the time the phenomena begin, a large number of the FPs are in puberty. One third of the FPs report bodily and psychological peculiarities during or immediately prior to RSPK phenomena. With unusual frequency, they complain about conversion-neurotic symptoms (such as psychologically caused paralysis, narrowing of consciousness, etc.) as well as about “absentes” of psychogenic or neurological origin). There is insufficient documentation to allow decision on the question as to whether these peculiarities are reactions to the RSPK occurrences that might be found in other poltergeist victims as well. FPs are exposed to many social and psychological stress factors. Relatively many of them live with only one parent or with grandparents. Some of the FPs confess to having used fraudulent manipulation. This does not normally imply that presumed paranormal phenomena did not occur. Our data about FPs largely correspond to the ones Roll (e. g., 1977) found in his investigations.