Science of the SpiritS


Brain

Major academic journal publishes article admitting the evidence for psi is solid

Greg
Daily Grail
Fri, 08 Jun 2018 15:16 UTC
telepathy
Is controversial research into telepathy and other seeming 'super-powers' of the mind starting to be more accepted by orthodox science? In its latest issue, American Psychologist - the official peer-reviewed academic journal of the American Psychological Association - has published a paper that reviews the research so far into parapsychological ('psi') abilities, and concludes that the "evidence provides cumulative support for the reality of psi, which cannot be readily explained away by the quality of the studies, fraud, selective reporting, experimental or analytical incompetence, or other frequent criticisms."

The new paper - "The experimental evidence for parapsychological phenomena: a review", by Etzel Cardeña of Lund University - also discusses recent theories from physics and psychology "that present psi phenomena as at least plausible", and concludes with recommendations for further progress in the field.

The paper begins by noting the reason for presenting an overview and discussion of the topic: "Most psychologists could reasonably be described as uninformed skeptics - a minority could reasonably be described as prejudiced bigots - where the paranormal is concerned". Indeed, it quotes one cognitive scientist as stating that the acceptance of psi phenomena would "send all of science as we know it crashing to the ground".

To address this, the paper quickly outlines some current theories in physics and psychology that might help to explain psi effects without smashing the pillars supporting the scientific establishment: quantum physics, ideas on the nature of consciousness, theories of time, and psychological and evolutionary theories of psi.
Read More...
Wine n Glass

Intelligent people drink more and are more likely to use drugs

Dr. Jeremy Dean
PsyBlog
Sat, 09 Jun 2018 15:11 UTC
reading and drinking tea
© Eric Vanden
People with high IQs drink more alcohol, although they are unlikely to be heavy drinkers, new research finds.

In other words, they drink more, on average, but spread it out, and are unlikely to be alcoholics.

The results fit with the fact that highly intelligent people are also more likely to use drugs.

It could be because the intelligent tend to be easily bored.

The conclusions come from a large study of the links between IQ and health habits.

Higher IQs are generally linked to healthier habits.
Read More...
Extinguisher

How the mind operates under high stress

Tali Sharoti
Aeon
Sun, 10 Jun 2018 17:25 UTC
firefighters
© Randy Robertson
Some of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime will occur while you feel stressed and anxious. From medical decisions to financial and professional ones, we are often required to weigh up information under stressful conditions. Take for example expectant parents who need to make a series of important choices during pregnancy and labour - when many feel stressed. Do we become better or worse at processing and using information under such circumstances?

My colleague Neil Garrett, now at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute in New Jersey, and I ventured from the safety of our lab to fire stations in the state of Colorado to investigate how the mind operates under high stress. Firefighters' workdays vary quite a bit. Some days are pretty relaxed; they'll spend part of their time washing the truck, cleaning equipment, cooking meals and reading. Other days can be hectic, with numerous life-threatening incidents to attend to; they'll enter burning homes to rescue trapped residents, and assist with medical emergencies. These ups and downs presented the perfect setting for an experiment on how people's ability to use information changes when they feel under pressure.

We found that perceived threat triggered a stress reaction that made the firefighters better at processing information - but only as long as it conveyed bad news.
Read More...
Bulb

Embracing an Ennobling Vision by Rejecting Cynicism and Nihilism


Querticus
Sat, 09 Jun 2018 21:05 UTC
man in river
It is the responsibility of every man to keep himself out of the abyss. Yet he cannot do this job alone; a set of guiding principles must light the way along the dark and confusing pathways of the forest. In some cases, he must be hectored, badgered, cajoled, and-in the end-forced to keep along the path; in other cases, he need only be guided by gentle instruction in the illuminating lights of philosophical inquiry. Every situation is different, and calls for different remedies.

And yet man is a slippery animal. Often he does not say what he means; he likes to cloak his true desires and motivations in garments of varying shape and color. Rare is the man who is honest with others; even rarer is he who is honest with himself. As Leonardo Bruni reminds us,
Read More...
Book 2

Author Michael Pollan wants to change your mind with psychedelic drugs

Kevin Franciotti
The Fix
Mon, 21 May 2018 13:21 UTC
TED Talks
© TED Talks
Thousands of patients were treated for addiction and alcoholism with LSD and other psychedelics in the '50s and '60s, which proved so successful that the Canadian government for a time made it a standard option for treatment.

Future generations may look back at last week as the defining period when the conversation around modern psychedelic research entered mainstream society. With appearances everywhere from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to an extensive interview broadcast on NPR's Fresh Air (and dozens of other news programs), perhaps one of the more unlikely figures to emerge as a spokesperson for psychedelics, renowned science journalist and author, Michael Pollan, has been discussing his new book How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence.

At the book's launch event in New York City, Pollan admitted, "I was a reluctant psychonaut," referring to a phrase embraced by psychedelic users as so-called astronauts of the psyche. "But I'm an immersion journalist, it's what I do," he boasted with a grin on his face. Pollan made a name for himself as a food writer, with five New York Times best sellers, but nearly missed out on what would become a life - and career changing - discovery. Writing for the New Yorker magazine in 2015, Pollan took an extensive look at a small clinical trial at NYU involving patients with life-threatening cancer diagnoses whose existential distress around dying left them with crippling anxiety and depression.
Read More...
SOTT Logo Radio

SOTT Focus: The Truth Perspective: Atheism vs. Religion: Is God a Cosmic King, Or Criminal? - Part 2


Sott.net
Sat, 09 Jun 2018 16:00 UTC
religiones
© Desconocido
In Part 2 of our discussion on religion, God and atheism, we dive deeper in why belief in God might be rational - contrary to what atheists believe. But there are many conceptions of God, some more rational than others. Traditional monotheism - taken literally - can't withstand the assault of its critics. The atheists have that going for them. But a naturalistic theism arguably can. And the atheists don't have anything to say about that. In fact, there are some things that probably cannot be accounted for without some sort of divinity: truth, values, even math.

Tune in Saturday, 12:00 pm EDT, as we begin to flesh out what a naturalistic God might be like.

Running Time: 01:26:46

Download: MP3

Read More...
Snowflake

Psychoanalyzing the mania over 'microaggressions'

Howard S. Schwartz
Legal Insurrection
Thu, 03 May 2018 19:22 UTC
preferred pronouns
© Kiyun Kim
Radical narcissism.

Political correctness gets crazier and crazier, but it does so in a way that seems to represent the development of something that was there right at the beginning.

I've been trying to make sense of it, from a psychoanalytic point of view, and the theory has, gratifyingly, developed apace with what it is trying to explain.

The current edge of the theory is what I call the "pristine self," which is a self touched by nothing but love, and I am pleased to suggest that it gives us some insight into the current edge of political correctness, which is built around the concept of "microaggression.' In this post, I'd like to lay out that connection.
Read More...
USA

What truly lies at the root of our culture's suicide epidemic

Matt Walsh
The Daily Wire
Fri, 08 Jun 2018 00:00 UTC
faith
Anthony Bourdain killed himself today. Fashion designer Kate Spade committed suicide earlier in the week. That's two prominent suicides in the span of just a few days. And they are far from alone, sadly. Suicide is a veritable epidemic across the nation. Suicide rates are on the rise in almost every state. In some areas, they have risen by 30% or more. This is not normal. Something is happening. But what? And why?

People will say that suicide is on the rise because we are not doing enough to fight the "mental health crisis," but this can't be the cause. We have never been more aware of, or more proactive against, mental health issues, yet the suicide rate only continues to climb. The rate was a fraction of what it is today back when nobody had ever even heard of "mental health." The purely psychological explanations just don't hold up. Clearly there is a deeper problem here.
Read More...
People 2

Feeling isolated? If so, you're not alone

Adam Taggart
Peak Prosperity
Thu, 07 Jun 2018 15:25 UTC
lonely
Does anyone else in your life share your concerns for the future?

Is there someone you talk with regularly about the unsustainability of our current economic and ecological trajectories?

Do you have friends and/or family members who support your efforts to develop a more resilient lifestyle?

If you answered "no" to these questions, you're not an outlier. In fact, the #1 most commonly-reported complaint we hear from Peak Prosperity readers is that they feel alone and isolated when it comes to the warnings delivered in The Crash Course.

The end of economic growth. Declining net energy. Accelerating resource depletion. These are MASSIVE existential threats to our way of life -- to our species' survival, even. Most PPers can't comprehend why *everyone* isn't obessively talking about these dangers.


Comment: Add to this the encroaching police state, cometary bombardment, global conflict, earth changes, etc...


But very few people are. Truthfully, most don't want to; for a wide variety of reasons.

So that leaves us, the conscientious critical thinkers, alone by ourselves to worry and plan.

Does this sound like you? If so, read on...

Comment: For that matter, here's a link to Sott's own related research Forum.

Read More...
Wedding Rings

Conscientious extroverts are happier after marriage

Dr. Jeremy Dean
PsyBlog
Thu, 07 Jun 2018 18:21 UTC
Couple
© Virginia State Parks / Flickr
Introverted women are more satisfied with life for longer after marriage, research finds.

However, men who are introverted gain the least in the long-term from being married, with extraverted men gaining the most from marriage.

Introverted men were actually less happy, on average, after getting married than men who had never married.

These personality trends are a fascinating kink in the orthodox view of marriage's effect on happiness.

Normally, people feel happier for a period before and after getting married, but this fades away after a couple of years - they may even feel worse than before marriage.
Read More...