Paranormal activity: science or fiction? - with Chris French

Paranormal experiences often appear perplexing, but are they genuinely legitimate phenomena? Watch the Q&A here (exclusively for our YouTube channel members): Sign up as a YouTube member here for early access and other perks: Buy Chris’s book ’The Science of Weird Shit’ here: This talk was recorded at the Ri on 22 April 2024. Join Chris French, psychologist and expert on all things paranormal, as he reveals the cardinal truths behind everything from ghostly encounters and alien abductions, to UFO sightings and near-death experiences. By employing rigorous scientific methods, Chris will embark on a search for the truth behind these mystical occurrences. Chris’ intellectual journey carries us through the debunking of extrasensory perception (ESP), endeavours to communicate with the departed, and even accounts of alien abductions, among other curious occurrences. These phenomena also offer a profound insight into the intricacies of human cognition and consciousness, and should be systematically studied accordingly. By employing an academic, comprehensive, logical, and occasionally mathematical approach, Chris demystifies what once seemed beyond explanation. Allow yourself to discover the overlap between belief, the human mind, and the mysteries that continue to intrigue and perplex us. 00:00 Intro 1:29 What is anomalistic psychology? 3:33 Testing paranormal claims: baby psychic 10:40 Testing paranormal claims: dream detective 21:02 Testing paranormal claims: sensing the future 24:58 The replication problem in psychology 27:59 Why study paranormal psychology? 29:25 Demo: The unreliability of memory 32:20 Inattentional blindness of witnesses 37:44 Spoon bending and memory conformity 42:59 How false memories can be implanted 48:19 Alien experiences, sleep paralysis and hypnosis 54:28 Top down processing and pareidolia --- Chris French is the Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit in the Psychology Department at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a Patron of the British Humanist Association. He has published over 150 articles and chapters covering a wide range of topics. His main current area of research is the psychology of paranormal beliefs and anomalous experiences. He frequently appears on radio and television casting a sceptical eye over paranormal claims. --- The Ri is on Twitter: and Facebook: and TikTok: @ri_science Listen to the Ri podcast: Donate to the RI and help us bring you more lectures: Our editorial policy: Subscribe for the latest science videos: Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won’t cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.