Modern researchers in Parapsychology discuss a fourth explanatory model for anomalous experiences that might be called the “Super-Psi” or “Living Agent Psi (LAP)” model. This model tries to explain phenomena that appear paranormal or spirit-related without requiring discarnate spirits or external entities.
The Super-Psi / Living Agent Psi Model
Basic idea:
All the information or effects involved in an anomalous experience might come from the psychic abilities of living people, usually unconsciously.
These abilities may include:
- Telepathy: mind-to-mind information transfer
- Clairvoyance: acquiring information about distant or hidden events
- Precognition: knowledge of future events
- Psychokinesis: mental influence on physical systems
The “super” part of the theory means these abilities that could possibly operate at extremely complex and powerful levels, combining all of the above simultaneously.
Why It Was Proposed
Researchers noticed that some paranormal cases seemed to involve:
- Accurate information about deceased people
- Objects moving: or disturbances (poltergeist cases)
- Visions or voices: that seem external
- Mediumistic information
Instead of assuming spirits, the Super-Psi model suggests:
The living person’s unconscious psi might gather information from anywhere in space and time and constructs the experience.
Example
A grief apparition:
Someone sees and hears a deceased relative.
Interpretations maybe different models:
- Psychological model: grief hallucination
- Survival model: the spirit of the deceased actually appeared
- Psi model: telepathic/clairvoyant perception
- Super-Psi model: the experiencer’s unconscious psi accessed information about the deceased and created the full perception
Where It Is Used
The model may often be discussed in research areas such as:
- Apparitions
- Mediumship
- Poltergeist cases
- Near-death and after-death communication reports
Some influential parapsychologists who debated these ideas include:
- J. B. Rhine
- Ian Stevenson
- Stephen E. Braude
Strengths of the Model
Parapsychologists might consider it attractive because it:
- Explains paranormal information without requiring spirits
- Uses known psi processes studied in labs
- May theoretically explain very complex cases
Main Criticism
Critics argue the model becomes too powerful and unfalsifiable.
For example:
If unconscious psi can access the mind, at any place, at any time, then paranormal events could be explained by Super-Psi, making it difficult to test scientifically.
Important Debate in Parapsychology
Today the biggest debate in Parapsychology is between:
- Super-Psi / Living Agent Psi theory
- Survival of consciousness after death
Both attempt to explain the same phenomena but propose could be different realities.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 