1. Defining a Medium

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this lecture, we think about how to define a medium, focusing in particular on: i) reviewing the focus areas of parapsychology, comprising of extrasensory perception, psychokinesis, and after death communication; (ii) dividing mediumship into physical and mental, the former rendering the medium as the facilitator for physical phenomena, while the latter relates to communicating with spirits; (iii) the different ways in which mediums can operate, including clairvoyantly, clairaudiently and clairsentiently; (iv) spiritualist mediumship and the spiritualism religion.

Course

In this course, Professor Ciarán O’Keeffe (Buckinghamshire New University) explores mediumship. In the first lecture, we think about how to define a medium and the act of mediumship. In the second lecture, we think about the history of mediumship and its origins in Ancient Greece. In the third lecture, we think about some theories behind how mediumship can occur, with a focus on the paranormal. Next, we think about the role of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the research and popularity around mediumship. In the fifth and final lecture, we think about taking a sceptical perspective towards research into mediumship.

Lecturer

Professor Ciarán O’Keeffe is associate professor of education and research and head of the School of Human and Social Sciences at Buckinghamshire New University. Professor O’Keeffe’s research interests include investigative psychology and parapsychology, and has made numerous television and radio appearances alongside an array of celebrities. Some of Professor O’Keeffe’s recent publications include 'Things That Go Bump In The Literature: An Environmental Appraisal of 'Haunted Houses'' (2020) and 'Restorative Justice and Recidivism: Investigating the impact of victim-preference for level of engagement' (2014).