American Society for Psychical Research
Encyclopedia
The American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR) is an organisation dedicated to parapsychology
based in New York
, where it maintains offices and a library. It is open to interested members of the public to join, and has a website. It also publishes the quarterly Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research.
as first President. It was inspired by the 1882 founding in Britain of the Society for Psychical Research
which supported the initiative, and sent dedicated psychic researcher and amateur conjuror Richard Hodgson to oversee the new Society, a task he performed till his death. In 1889 a financial crisis forced the ASPR to become a branch of the Society for Psychical Research, and Simon Newcomb and others left. It achieved independence once more in 1906.
Following the death of Richard Hodgson in 1905, James Hyslop took up the Presidential position of the recreated organisation. The society moved to New York, where it remains to this day. During this period the ASPR were heavily involved in the investigation of purported medium Leonora Piper
.
James Hyslop died in 1920, and immediately strife broke out between the membership as the Society divided into two factions, one broadly pro-Spiritualism
, indeed often Spiritualists, and the other 'conservative' faction favoring telepathy
and sceptical of 'discarnate spirits' as an explanation for the phenomena studied, or simply skeptical of the phenomena's existence. In 1923 a prominent Spiritualist, Frederick Edwards, was appointed President, and the conservative faction led by Gardner Murphy
and Walter Franklin Prince
declared that the Society was becoming less academic.
In 1925 Edwards was reappointed President, and his support of the mediumistic claims of 'Margery' (Mina Crandon
) led to the 'conservative' faction leaving and forming the rival Boston Society for Psychical Research in May, 1925. From this point on the ASPR remained highly sympathetic to Spiritualism until 1941, when the Boston Society for Psychical Research was reintegrated in to the ASPR.
), and Arthur Conan Doyle
's public lecture tour of the USA promoting Spiritualism
.
This marked a significant split in the history of American psychical research: the American Society for Psychical Research had become dominated by those sympathetic to Spiritualism
; the Boston Society favored a naturalistic explanation (such as telepathy
; yet telepathy within the laws of undiscovered physics) for purported mediumship and was critical of the purported mediumship of Mina Crandon
in particular. Under President Walter Franklin Prince
it organised the investigation of Mina during the Scientific American Prize dspute, and Harry Houdini
worked with the group. BSPR investigators were involved in the uncovering of the alleged fraud of Mina Crandon
-- including a number of revelations often credited to Harry Houdini
, but actually discovered by other BSPR members. The BSPR fell in to obscurity following the death of Walter Franklin Prince
in 1934, and the exposure of Mina Crandon
, and was formally reincorporated in to the American Society for Psychical Research in 1941.
In 1934 the BSPR published Extrasensory Perception by their member Joseph Banks Rhine
, who introduced the term ESP to English, and created both the term parapsychology
and methodology of modern parapsychology, with its quantitative research
and laboratory based approach, as distinct from the older psychical research.
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
based in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where it maintains offices and a library. It is open to interested members of the public to join, and has a website. It also publishes the quarterly Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research.
History
The American Society for Psychical Research was founded in 1884 and became formally active in 1885 in Boston, Massachusetts, with astronomer Simon NewcombSimon Newcomb
Simon Newcomb was a Canadian-American astronomer and mathematician. Though he had little conventional schooling, he made important contributions to timekeeping as well as writing on economics and statistics and authoring a science fiction novel.-Early life:Simon Newcomb was born in the town of...
as first President. It was inspired by the 1882 founding in Britain of the Society for Psychical Research
Society for Psychical Research
The Society for Psychical Research is a non-profit organisation in the United Kingdom. Its stated purpose is to understand "events and abilities commonly described as psychic or paranormal by promoting and supporting important research in this area" and to "examine allegedly paranormal phenomena...
which supported the initiative, and sent dedicated psychic researcher and amateur conjuror Richard Hodgson to oversee the new Society, a task he performed till his death. In 1889 a financial crisis forced the ASPR to become a branch of the Society for Psychical Research, and Simon Newcomb and others left. It achieved independence once more in 1906.
Following the death of Richard Hodgson in 1905, James Hyslop took up the Presidential position of the recreated organisation. The society moved to New York, where it remains to this day. During this period the ASPR were heavily involved in the investigation of purported medium Leonora Piper
Leonora Piper
Leonora Piper was a famous trance medium in the area of Spiritualism. Piper was the subject of intense interest and investigation by American and British psychic research associations during the early 20th century, most notably William James and the Society for Psychical Research. She claimed to...
.
James Hyslop died in 1920, and immediately strife broke out between the membership as the Society divided into two factions, one broadly pro-Spiritualism
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
, indeed often Spiritualists, and the other 'conservative' faction favoring telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
and sceptical of 'discarnate spirits' as an explanation for the phenomena studied, or simply skeptical of the phenomena's existence. In 1923 a prominent Spiritualist, Frederick Edwards, was appointed President, and the conservative faction led by Gardner Murphy
Gardner Murphy
Gardner Murphy was an American psychologist specialising in social and personality psychology, and parapsychology. His career highlights included serving as president of the American Psychological Association, and of the British Society for Psychical Research.Murphy was born on July 8, 1895 in...
and Walter Franklin Prince
Walter Franklin Prince
Walter Franklin Prince was Investigating Officer of the Boston Society for Psychical Research in Boston during the years Harry Houdini served as an agent of the organization while investigating reportedly corrupt spiritualist mediums. Prince was an Episcopal minister, earning his two B.D.'s from...
declared that the Society was becoming less academic.
In 1925 Edwards was reappointed President, and his support of the mediumistic claims of 'Margery' (Mina Crandon
Mina Crandon
Mina "Margery" Crandon was the wife of a wealthy Boston surgeon and socialite, Dr. Le Roi Goddard Crandon. She became well known as a medium who claimed that she channeled her dead brother, Walter Stinson.-Biography:...
) led to the 'conservative' faction leaving and forming the rival Boston Society for Psychical Research in May, 1925. From this point on the ASPR remained highly sympathetic to Spiritualism until 1941, when the Boston Society for Psychical Research was reintegrated in to the ASPR.
Splinter group
The Boston Society for Psychical Research was founded in April 1925 by former members of the American Society for Psychical Research, many of whom were alarmed by the ASPR support for the purported medium Margery (Mina CrandonMina Crandon
Mina "Margery" Crandon was the wife of a wealthy Boston surgeon and socialite, Dr. Le Roi Goddard Crandon. She became well known as a medium who claimed that she channeled her dead brother, Walter Stinson.-Biography:...
), and Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
's public lecture tour of the USA promoting Spiritualism
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
.
This marked a significant split in the history of American psychical research: the American Society for Psychical Research had become dominated by those sympathetic to Spiritualism
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
; the Boston Society favored a naturalistic explanation (such as telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
; yet telepathy within the laws of undiscovered physics) for purported mediumship and was critical of the purported mediumship of Mina Crandon
Mina Crandon
Mina "Margery" Crandon was the wife of a wealthy Boston surgeon and socialite, Dr. Le Roi Goddard Crandon. She became well known as a medium who claimed that she channeled her dead brother, Walter Stinson.-Biography:...
in particular. Under President Walter Franklin Prince
Walter Franklin Prince
Walter Franklin Prince was Investigating Officer of the Boston Society for Psychical Research in Boston during the years Harry Houdini served as an agent of the organization while investigating reportedly corrupt spiritualist mediums. Prince was an Episcopal minister, earning his two B.D.'s from...
it organised the investigation of Mina during the Scientific American Prize dspute, and Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts...
worked with the group. BSPR investigators were involved in the uncovering of the alleged fraud of Mina Crandon
Mina Crandon
Mina "Margery" Crandon was the wife of a wealthy Boston surgeon and socialite, Dr. Le Roi Goddard Crandon. She became well known as a medium who claimed that she channeled her dead brother, Walter Stinson.-Biography:...
-- including a number of revelations often credited to Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts...
, but actually discovered by other BSPR members. The BSPR fell in to obscurity following the death of Walter Franklin Prince
Walter Franklin Prince
Walter Franklin Prince was Investigating Officer of the Boston Society for Psychical Research in Boston during the years Harry Houdini served as an agent of the organization while investigating reportedly corrupt spiritualist mediums. Prince was an Episcopal minister, earning his two B.D.'s from...
in 1934, and the exposure of Mina Crandon
Mina Crandon
Mina "Margery" Crandon was the wife of a wealthy Boston surgeon and socialite, Dr. Le Roi Goddard Crandon. She became well known as a medium who claimed that she channeled her dead brother, Walter Stinson.-Biography:...
, and was formally reincorporated in to the American Society for Psychical Research in 1941.
In 1934 the BSPR published Extrasensory Perception by their member Joseph Banks Rhine
Joseph Banks Rhine
Joseph Banks Rhine was a botanist who later developed an interest in parapsychology and psychology. Rhine founded the parapsychology lab at Duke University, the Journal of Parapsychology, and the Foundation for Research on the Nature of Man...
, who introduced the term ESP to English, and created both the term parapsychology
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
and methodology of modern parapsychology, with its quantitative research
Quantitative research
In the social sciences, quantitative research refers to the systematic empirical investigation of social phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques. The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to...
and laboratory based approach, as distinct from the older psychical research.
See also
- International Association for Near-Death StudiesIANDSThe International Association for Near-Death Studies is an organization for studying and disseminating information on the phenomena of the near death experience . IANDS was founded in the USA in 1981. Today it has grown into an international organization, which includes a network of more than 50...
- Parapsychological Association
- Society for Psychical ResearchSociety for Psychical ResearchThe Society for Psychical Research is a non-profit organisation in the United Kingdom. Its stated purpose is to understand "events and abilities commonly described as psychic or paranormal by promoting and supporting important research in this area" and to "examine allegedly paranormal phenomena...
- List of parapsychology topics