|
Evolution and Psychic
Experiences
by Christine Simmonds-Moore |
Is it possible to reconcile evolutionary
theory with paranormal experiences? On the
surface, these two areas may seem like polar
opposites, and even contradict one another.
Indeed, there is little evidence that
"psychic ability" is increasing as a
selected skill. However, in this
presentation, Christine will explore the
idea that paranormal experiences can be
understood within an evolutionary context.
Evolutionary terms will be explored,
alongside various features of psychic
experiences that indicate that experiences
run in families (there may be a genetic
component), that they are associated with a
personality type that seems to be maintained
by "natural selection" (i.e., it is useful
to humans!) and also that experiences often
seem to be "future oriented", associated
with increased survival (not in a spooky
sense, but in an everyday sense, to avoid
danger and threat!) and often include ones
own family members. In this presentation,
time will be allowed for Q&A and audience
interaction.
Christine
Simmonds-Moore, PhD has a PhD on
personality and anomalous experiences and
has been actively studying anomalous,
paranormal and transpersonal experiences for
over 10 years. Previous research projects
include healing, ganzfeld research, virtual
reality and ESP, gender role and paranormal
experiences and recently, cognition and
attention and paranormal experiences and the
overlaps between paranormal experiences and
clinical psychology. She has recently become
interested in evolution and psychic
experiences. Christine has also regularly
taught courses on paranormal experiences,
both for members of the public (at the Rhine
Research Center) and at undergraduate level
(at Liverpool Hope University). Christine is
currently on grant funded sabbatical from
her teaching post at Liverpool Hope
University in the UK, and is a visiting
Researcher at the Rhine Research Center and
the Division of Perceptual Studies at UVA in
Charlottesville. During this upcoming year,
she will be working on a study which will
explore individual differences and the
detection of weak and paranormal signals as
well as working on two books - one on
psychic personality and the other on health,
mental health and exceptional human
experiences (the outcome of a recent
conference that Christine organized in the
UK). Christine is a member of the PA, where
she sits on one of the grant committees, the
SPR, and also a member of the British
Psychological Society, highlighting her
passion for mainstream psychology and the
psychology of anomalous experiences.
