Charles Honorton
Encyclopedia
Charles Henry Honorton was an American parapsychologist.
Honorton was born in Deer River, Minnesota
on February 5, 1946.
Honorton's research primarily focussed on ESP phenomena 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. He believed that the various findings of parapsychologists showed a systematic process which was the system onto which ESP and PK
(which together are called 'psi
') are built.
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. 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.
During the course of his research Honorton created the Ganzfield technique, a mild sensory-deprevation technique designed to refocus the mind inwards. 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.
Honorton rejected the term parapsychology
, instead preferring to call it psychophysics. To support this opinion he stated: "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."
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 at Princeton University
, New Jersey
from 1979-89 and from there he moved on to become a researcher at Edinburgh University from 1991 until his death.
He died in on November 4, 1992 of a heart attack.
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.
Honorton was born in Deer River, Minnesota
Deer River, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 903 people, 389 households, and 220 families residing in the city. The population density was 850.9 people per square mile . There were 415 housing units at an average density of 391.1 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 84.05% White, 12.07%...
on February 5, 1946.
Honorton's research primarily focussed on ESP phenomena 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. He believed that the various findings of parapsychologists showed a systematic process which was the system onto which ESP and PK
Psychokinesis
The term psychokinesis , also referred to as telekinesis with respect to strictly describing movement of matter, sometimes abbreviated PK and TK respectively, is a term...
(which together are called 'psi
Psi (parapsychology)
Psi is a term from parapsychology derived from the Greek, ψ psi, 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet; from the Greek ψυχή psyche, "mind, soul".-Etymology:...
') are built.
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. 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.
During the course of his research Honorton created the Ganzfield technique, a mild sensory-deprevation technique designed to refocus the mind inwards. 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.
Honorton rejected 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...
, instead preferring to call it psychophysics. To support this opinion he stated: "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."
Honorton was a research fellow at the Institute for Parapsychology Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
from 1966–67, a research associate, then senior research associate, then Director of Research Division of Parapsychology and Psychophysics at Maimonides Medical Center
Maimonides Medical Center
Maimonides Medical Center is a non-profit, non-sectarian hospital located in Borough Park, Brooklyn. Maimonides is both a treatment facility and academic medical center with 705 beds, and more than 70 primary care and sub-specialty programs...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, 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...
from. 1967-79. After that he became the Director Psychophysical Research Laboratories at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
from 1979-89 and from there he moved on to become a researcher at Edinburgh University from 1991 until his death.
He died in on November 4, 1992 of a heart attack.
Criticism
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. Honorton continued to claim that his meta-analysis, developed in the 1980s, conclusively proved that paraspychological research was replicable.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.