Author Archives: Shervan K Shahhian, LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, The Most Comprehensive Online Library Regarding Mental Health, Psychology and Parapsychology in the World.

Doctored Degree in Clinical Psychology (PSYD) (ABD) All But Dissertation, a Masters (M.A.) in Clinical Psychology, a Bachelor's Degree (B.A.) in Psychology, a Associate Degree (AA) in Liberal Arts with an emphases in Psychology, Certification in Anger Management, Certification in MRT-Moral Reconation Therapy®, Certification in Clinical Hypnotherapy, and Certification in Advanced Hypnotherapy.

Emotional Blackmail is a form of psychological manipulation:

Emotional Blackmail is a form of psychological manipulation in which someone uses fear, obligation, guilt, shame, or affection to pressure another person into doing what they want. The goal is to control another person’s behavior by exploiting the relationship rather than communicating openly and respectfully.

How Emotional Blackmail Works

It often follows a predictable pattern:

A demand

The person wants you to do something.

Example: “You need to cancel your plans and stay with me.”

Resistance

You politely decline or express your own needs.

Pressure

They increase the emotional pressure.

They may criticize, guilt trip, threaten, or play the victim.

Compliance

You give in to stop the conflict or avoid feeling guilty.

Repetition

They learn that this strategy works and continue using it.

Common Tactics

1. Guilt Tripping

Making you feel responsible for their emotions.

Examples:

“After everything I’ve done for you…”

“You’re so selfish.”

“A good son/daughter would help.”

2. Fear

Creating fear of consequences.

Examples:

“If you leave me, I’ll never recover.”

“You’ll regret this.”

“Don’t expect me to be there for you.”

3. Obligation

Making you feel indebted.

Examples:

“You owe me.”

“I sacrificed everything for you.”

4. Shame

Attacking your character.

Examples:

“You’re a terrible friend.”

“Only bad people would say no.”

5. Silent Treatment

Using withdrawal of affection or communication as punishment.

Examples:

Ignoring texts.

Refusing to speak for days.

6. Playing the Victim

Presenting themselves as helpless to make you feel guilty.

Examples:

“Nobody cares about me.”

“Everyone abandons me.”

7. Conditional Love

Making affection dependent on obedience.

Examples:

“If you loved me, you would…”

“I thought you cared about me.”

The FOG Model

F – Fear

Fear of conflict, rejection, abandonment, or punishment.

O – Obligation

Feeling you “should” do what they ask.

G – Guilt

Feeling like a bad person for saying no.

When you’re in FOG, it becomes difficult to make decisions based on your own values and needs.

Why People Use Emotional Blackmail

Not everyone who uses these tactics is intentionally malicious. Some people learned these behaviors growing up or use them because they struggle to communicate their needs effectively. Others may use them deliberately to gain control.

Possible reasons include:

Poor emotional regulation
Fear of abandonment
Insecure attachment
Learned family patterns
Desire for control
Certain personality traits or disorders (though emotional blackmail is not specific to any one diagnosis)

Signs You May Be Experiencing Emotional Blackmail

You might notice that:

You constantly feel guilty for saying no.
You feel responsible for someone else’s happiness.
You walk on eggshells.
You often give in just to keep the peace.
Your boundaries are repeatedly ignored.
You feel anxious before expressing your own needs.

Signs You May Be Experiencing Emotional Blackmail

You might notice that:

You constantly feel guilty for saying no.

You feel responsible for someone else’s happiness.

You walk on eggshells.

You often give in just to keep the peace.

Your boundaries are repeatedly ignored.

You feel anxious before expressing your own needs.

Healthy Ways to Respond

Stay calm and avoid reacting impulsively.

Acknowledge their feelings without accepting unfair responsibility.

“I understand you’re upset.”

Repeat your boundary clearly.

“I can’t do that.”

Avoid lengthy justifications, which may invite further pressure.

Recognize guilt as a feeling, not proof that you’ve done something wrong.

If the pattern is ongoing, consider limiting contact or seeking support from trusted friends or a mental health professional.

Example

Emotional Blackmail

Person A: “I can’t lend you money this month.”

Person B: “I guess you don’t care if I end up homeless. After everything I’ve done for you.”

The second response attempts to create guilt rather than discuss the situation constructively.

Healthy Alternative

Person A: “I can’t lend you money this month.”

Person B: “I’m disappointed, but I understand. I’ll look for other options.”

This response expresses emotion while respecting the other person’s decision.

Key Point

Emotional blackmail differs from healthy emotional expression. It’s normal for people to express sadness, disappointment, or frustration. It becomes emotional blackmail when those emotions are used as tools of pressure or control, rather than shared honestly in a way that respects the other person’s autonomy and boundaries.

Shervan K Shahhian

Healthy Requests vs. Emotional Blackmail

Healthy Communication	Emotional Blackmail
Respects your choice	Punishes your choice
Accepts “no”	Refuses to accept “no”
Discusses feelings honestly	Uses feelings as leverage
Encourages compromise	Demands compliance
Respects boundaries	Violates boundaries

Shervan K Shahhian

Love Bombing maybe a manipulation tactic in which someone overwhelms another person with:

Love Bombing maybe a manipulation tactic in which someone overwhelms another person with excessive affection, attention, gifts, compliments, or promises early in a relationship, or after conflict, to quickly create emotional dependence or regain control.

It may look like:

Constant texting or calling and expecting immediate replies.

Saying “I love you” or talking about marriage very early.

Lavish gifts or grand romantic gestures that feel overwhelming.

Making you feel like you’re their “soulmate” almost immediately.

Wanting to spend all their time with you and discouraging your independence.

The key difference between healthy affection and love bombing is intent and consistency:

Healthy affection respects your boundaries, develops naturally over time, and doesn’t come with pressure or expectations.

Love bombing often serves to gain control, and the intense affection may later be replaced by criticism, guilt, manipulation, or emotional withdrawal if you don’t meet the person’s expectations.

Some warning signs include:

Feeling rushed into commitment.

Feeling guilty for wanting personal space.

The person’s behavior changes dramatically once you’re emotionally invested.

They use affection as a reward and withdraw it as punishment.

Not everyone who is very affectionate is love bombing. Some people genuinely express excitement and care early in relationships. The concern arises when the affection is excessive, manipulative, ignores your boundaries, or is part of a repeating cycle of idealization followed by devaluation.

Shervan K Shahhian

Trauma Bonding could be a strong emotional attachment that develops between,…

Trauma bonding could be a strong emotional attachment that develops between a person and someone who repeatedly harms, manipulates, or abuses them. The bond forms through a recurring cycle of abuse followed by kindness, affection, apologies, or promises to change. This pattern may make it very difficult for the victim to leave the relationship, even when they recognize it is harmful.

It is important to distinguish trauma bonding from healthy love. A trauma bond is maintained by fear, dependency, intermittent rewards, and emotional confusion, not by mutual respect, trust, and safety.

How Trauma Bonding Develops

Trauma bonds may typically develop through a repeating cycle:

Love and idealization
- The relationship begins with affection, attention, or excessive praise (sometimes called love bombing).
Abuse or mistreatment
- Emotional, verbal, physical, sexual, or financial abuse occurs.
- The victim experiences fear, confusion, or emotional pain.
Reconciliation
- The abusive person apologizes, becomes affectionate, or promises to change.
- Temporary kindness creates hope that the relationship will improve.
Calm period
- Things seem normal for a while.
- The victim becomes emotionally invested again.
The cycle repeats
- Each repetition may strengthens the emotional bond.

Why Trauma Bonds Become So Strong

Several psychological mechanisms may contribute:

Intermittent reinforcement
- Kindness is unpredictable, making positive moments feel especially rewarding.
- This is similar to the psychology behind gambling, where unpredictable rewards strengthen behavior.
Fear and relief
- The abuser becomes both the source of fear and the source of comfort.
- Relief after abuse may be mistaken for love.
Emotional dependency
- The victim may begin believing they need the abuser emotionally or financially.
Isolation
- The abusive person may discourage relationships with friends or family, increasing dependence.
Hope
- Victims may remain because they believe the “good” version of the person will return.

Common Signs of Trauma Bonding

Someone experiencing a trauma bond may:

Defend the abusive person’s behavior.
Minimize or rationalize the abuse.
Feel unable to leave despite recognizing the harm.
Blame themselves for the abuse.
Miss the abuser intensely after separation.
Feel guilty for setting boundaries.
Hide the abuse from others.
Believe only the abusive person truly understands them.
Experience repeated cycles of leaving and returning.

Trauma Bonding vs. Healthy Attachment

Healthy Relationship	Trauma Bond
Trust	Fear and anxiety
Respect	Control and manipulation
Consistent affection	Unpredictable affection
Healthy communication	Gaslighting and intimidation
Safe disagreements	Fear of conflict
Mutual independence	Emotional dependency
Stable emotional climate	Emotional highs and lows

Trauma Bonding vs. Stockholm Syndrome

Although the terms are sometimes confused, they are different.

Trauma Bonding

May occur in ongoing abusive relationships.
Develops through repeated cycles of abuse and reward.
Common in intimate relationships and families.

Stockholm Syndrome

Originally described in hostage situations.
Refers to hostages developing positive feelings toward captors under extreme circumstances.
It is not an officially recognized mental disorder.

Where Trauma Bonds May Occur

Trauma bonds may develop in many settings:

Romantic relationships
Parent child relationships
Domestic violence situations
Cults or high control groups
Human trafficking
Workplace abuse
Elder abuse
Some caregiver relationships

Effects on Mental Health

Trauma bonding may contribute to:

Anxiety
Depression
Low self-esteem
Hypervigilance
Shame and guilt
Difficulty trusting others
Symptoms associated with Post traumatic stress disorder or complex trauma
Difficulty forming healthy relationships

Breaking a Trauma Bond

Recovery is possible, though it may take time.

Helpful steps include:

Recognize the abusive cycle.
Reduce or eliminate contact when it is safe to do so.
Build support from trusted friends, family, or support groups.
Learn about manipulation tactics such as gaslighting, coercive control, and emotional blackmail.
Practice healthy boundaries.
Work with a trauma informed mental health professional if needed.
Focus on rebuilding self-esteem and independence.
Be patient with yourself, missing the abusive person does not mean the relationship was healthy.

What Research Shows

Some research may suggest that trauma bonding maybe closely related to:

Intermittent reinforcement from behavioral psychology.
Attachment processes, especially when insecurity or dependency is present.
Consult with a Neurologist: The neurobiology of stress and reward, involving stress hormones and the mind’s reward pathways, which may make abusive relationships especially difficult to leave.

Key Takeaway

Trauma bonding is not a sign of weakness or genuine love. It is a psychological response that may develop under repeated cycles of abuse, fear, and intermittent affection. Understanding how these cycles work maybe the first step towards recognizing unhealthy relationships and moving toward recovery and healthier connections.

Shervan K Shahhian

Complementary Mental Health Services are non-primary, supportive approaches:

The strength of evidence varies by condition. Complementary Mental Health Services are non-primary, supportive approaches that are used alongside conventional mental health treatment, not as replacements. Their goal is to enhance emotional well-being, reduce stress, improve coping skills, and support recovery.

These services maybe combined with psychotherapy, psychiatric care, medication: (Consult with a Medical Doctor), and lifestyle interventions.

Common Complementary Mental Health Services

1. Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness meditation
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Loving Kindness Meditation
Breath awareness
Guided imagery

Research suggests these practices may help reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms while improving emotional regulation.

2. Clinical Hypnotherapy

As a complementary intervention, clinical hypnotherapy may help with:

Anxiety
Stress management
Pain management: (Consult with a Medical Doctor)
Smoking cessation
Sleep difficulties
Habit change
Confidence building

It is generally most effective when integrated into a broader treatment plan by a qualified professional.

3. Relaxation Training

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
Autogenic Training
Deep breathing exercises
Visualization
Body scan exercises

These techniques may reduce physiological arousal associated with stress and anxiety: (Consult with a Medical Doctor)

4. Biofeedback and Neurofeedback

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Biofeedback: (Consult with a Medical Doctor)
EEG Neurofeedback
EMG Biofeedback

These approaches teach individuals to regulate certain physiological responses and may benefit some people with anxiety, ADHD, chronic pain: (Consult with a Medical Doctor), or migraines: (Consult with a Medical Doctor). The strength of evidence varies by condition.

5. Exercise Therapy

Regular physical activity: (Consult with a Medical Doctor)

Improve mood
Reduce anxiety
Decrease stress
Improve sleep
Increase self-esteem

Examples include: For all Physical Activities Pleas: (Consult with a Medical Doctor)

Walking
Swimming
Cycling
Strength training
Yoga
Tai Chi

6. Yoga

Yoga combines:

Physical movement
Controlled breathing
Relaxation
Mindfulness

Research indicates it may improve stress, anxiety, mood, and overall well-being for people.

7. Tai Chi and Qigong

These mind body practices emphasize:

Gentle movement
Breathing
Balance
Meditation

They may improve stress management, balance, and emotional well being.

8. Art Therapy

Creative expression through:

Drawing
Painting
Sculpture
Collage
Mixed media

Art therapy may help individuals process emotions and experiences that may be difficult to express verbally.

9. Music Therapy

Delivered by trained music therapists, it may include:

Listening to music
Singing
Playing instruments
Songwriting
Guided music experiences

It maybe used to support people with depression, anxiety, trauma, dementia: (Consult with a Medical Doctor), and neurological conditions: (Consult with a Neurologist/Medical Doctor).

10. Dance and Movement Therapy

Uses movement to:

Express emotions
Improve body awareness
Reduce stress
Enhance emotional regulation

11. Animal Assisted Therapy

Working with trained therapy animals may:

Reduce stress
Increase social interaction
Improve mood
Lower feelings of loneliness

12. Massage Therapy: (Consult with a Medical Doctor)

Massage may help:

Reduce muscle tension
Lower stress
Promote relaxation
Improve sleep

While it does Not treat mental disorders directly, it may complement overall stress management combined with Professional Psychotherapy

13. Nutrition Counseling with a Licensed Clinical Dietitian

A balanced diet supports:

Mind health
Stable energy
Mood regulation
Overall physical health

Emerging research in nutritional psychiatry: (Consult with a Psychiatrist) suggests diet may influence mental health, though it is only one part of comprehensive care.

14. Sleep Hygiene Education

Focuses on:

Consistent sleep schedule
Healthy bedtime routine
Limiting caffeine and alcohol
Reducing evening screen exposure
Optimizing the sleep environment

Improving sleep may have a significant positive impact on mental health.

15. Peer Support

Peer specialists with lived experience provide:

Encouragement
Recovery support
Practical coping strategies
Hope and connection

Peer support complements, rather than replaces, professional treatment.

Potential Benefits

Complementary mental health services may:

Reduce stress
Improve emotional resilience
Enhance coping skills
Improve sleep
Increase relaxation
Support trauma recovery
Improve quality of life
Promote overall wellness

Important Considerations

These approaches are intended to complement, not replace, evidence based treatments such as psychotherapy and, when appropriate, medication: (Consult with a Medical Doctor)
Effectiveness varies depending on the individual, the condition being treated, and the quality of the intervention.
Some complementary therapies have a stronger evidence base than others. Practices such as mindfulness, exercise, yoga, relaxation training, and certain forms of biofeedback are supported by a substantial body of research for specific conditions, while others require more study.

A comprehensive mental health plan may combine conventional treatments with carefully selected complementary services based on the individual’s goals, preferences, and clinical needs.

Shervan K Shahhian

Psychological Domination refers to the use of psychological tactics to,…

Psychological domination refers to the use of psychological tactics to gain, maintain, or exert power and control over another person’s thoughts, emotions, decisions, or behavior. It may occur in many different contexts, and whether it is healthy or harmful depends on the nature of the relationship and whether it is consensual.

There maybe two broad forms:

1. Harmful Psychological Domination (Coercive Control)

This is the form most commonly discussed in psychology and mental health. It involves manipulating or controlling another person against their will.

Common tactics include:

Coercive manipulation: (using fear, guilt, or obligation)
Gaslighting: (making someone question their memory or perception of reality)
Isolation: from family and friends
Emotional blackmail
Intimidation and threats
Excessive criticism or humiliation
Love bombing: followed by withdrawal of affection
Monitoring and surveillance
Controlling finances, communication, or daily activities
Creating dependency: so the person feels unable to leave

The goal may be to reduce the person’s independence and increase the dominator’s power.

Possible effects on the victim include:

Anxiety
Depression
Low self-esteem
Self-doubt
Learned helplessness
Confusion
Trauma symptoms
Difficulty trusting others

2. Consensual Psychological Domination

In some adult relationships, psychological dominance is part of a mutually agreed upon dynamic, such as in certain forms of power exchange. In these cases:

Both individuals freely consent.
Clear boundaries are established.
Either person can withdraw consent.
Mutual respect and communication are essential.

This differs fundamentally from abusive psychological domination because it is voluntary and negotiated.

How Psychological Domination Works

People seeking psychological dominance may often exploit normal human needs, such as the need for:

Love and acceptance
Security
Belonging
Approval
Predictability
Identity

Over time, they may condition another person to seek their approval while becoming increasingly fearful of disagreement or independence.

Warning Signs

Someone may be attempting psychological domination if they:

Need to control every decision.
Punish disagreement.
Constantly tell you what you should think or feel.
Rewrite events to make you doubt yourself.
Encourage dependence while discouraging independence.
Use guilt or shame to influence your choices.
Alternate kindness with cruelty to keep you emotionally off balance.

Psychological Concepts Related to Psychological Domination

Several concepts overlap with psychological domination:

Coercive control
Gaslighting
Trauma bonding
Learned helplessness
Psychological manipulation
Narcissistic abuse

In Clinical Psychology

Mental health professionals may view harmful psychological domination as a pattern of coercive control rather than a single behavior. It is recognized as a significant form of emotional and psychological abuse and is associated with increased risk of anxiety disorders, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms.

In short, psychological domination is the systematic use of psychological influence to establish power over another person. When it is non-consensual, it is generally considered a form of emotional or psychological abuse. When it is fully informed, voluntary, and consensual between adults, it refers to a very different type of interpersonal dynamic.

Shervan K Shahhian

Coercive Manipulation is a pattern of psychological influence:

Coercive Manipulation is a pattern of psychological influence in which one person or group uses pressure, intimidation, deception, guilt, fear, isolation, or other tactics to control another person’s thoughts, feelings, decisions, or behavior.

Unlike healthy persuasion, coercive manipulation undermines a person’s ability to make free and informed choices.

Common Tactics

Gaslighting: Making someone doubt their memory, perceptions, or sanity.
Guilt tripping: Using guilt to influence behavior.
Fear and intimidation: Threats, anger, or implied consequences.
Isolation: Separating a person from friends, family, or outside sources of information.
Love bombing: Excessive affection or attention used to gain trust and dependence.
Withholding information: Preventing informed decision-making.
Intermittent reinforcement: Alternating rewards and punishments to create dependency.
Shame and criticism: Lowering self-esteem to increase control.

Warning Signs

A person experiencing coercive manipulation may:

Feel they are “walking on eggshells.”
Frequently second guess themselves.
Feel responsible for another person’s emotions or actions.
Become increasingly isolated.
Have difficulty making independent decisions.
Feel trapped, powerless, or dependent.

Where It May Occur

Intimate relationships
Families
Workplaces
Cults or high control groups
Human trafficking situations
Financial scams and fraud schemes

Psychological Impact

Long term coercive manipulation may contribute to:

Anxiety
Depression
Low self-esteem
Trauma related symptoms
Learned helplessness
Difficulty trusting oneself or others

Healthy Influence vs. Coercive Manipulation

Healthy Influence	Coercive Manipulation
Respects choice	Undermines choice
Honest and transparent	Deceptive or misleading
Encourages independence	Creates dependency
Accepts disagreement	Punishes disagreement
Based on mutual respect	Based on control

In psychology, coercive manipulation may be discussed within the broader concepts of coercive control, emotional abuse, undue influence, and psychological domination. The key feature is that the goal is not simply to persuade, but to gain or maintain power and control over another person.

Shervan K Shahhian

Psi Mediated Communication is a term used in Parapsychology:

Psi mediated communication is a term used in parapsychology that refers to the hypothesis that information may be transferred between people (or between a person and their environment) through means that do not involve the known senses or conventional physical communication.

It is a theoretical concept used to explain reports of apparent information transfer that cannot easily be accounted for by ordinary sensory channels.

Types of Psi Mediated Communication

Researchers generally divide psi communication into two broad categories:

Telepathy
- Mind to mind communication.
- Information is thought to pass directly from one person’s consciousness to another without spoken words, gestures, or technology.
- Example: Someone suddenly knows what another person is thinking before they speak.
Clairvoyance
- Direct acquisition of information about distant objects, places, or events.
- The information is not believed to come from another person’s mind.
- Example: Describing a hidden object without seeing it.

Some researchers also include:

Precognition: information about future events.
Retrocognition: information about past events that could not have been learned normally.

How the Idea Is Used in Research

Within parapsychology, psi mediated communication has been proposed to explain phenomena such as:

Spontaneous telepathic impressions
Crisis apparitions
Shared dreams
Reports of after death communications
Some cases of remote perception
Certain experiences during meditation or altered states of consciousness

Researchers have investigated these possibilities using methods such as:

Ganzfeld experiment
Dream telepathy experiments
Forced choice card guessing tests
Free response experiments
Remote viewing protocols

Some studies have reported small statistical effects, while others have failed to replicate them consistently. As a result, there is no scientific consensus that psi mediated communication has been demonstrated.

Psi Mediated Communication vs. Ordinary Communication

Ordinary Communication	Psi-Mediated Communication (Hypothesized)
Speech	Telepathy
Writing	Direct mental information transfer
Facial expressions	No known sensory cues
Phone or internet	No physical communication channel
Hearing and vision	Claimed extrasensory perception

Psi Mediated Communication vs. the Super Psi Hypothesis

These ideas are related but distinct:

Psi mediated communication: proposes that information is exchanged through psi abilities, such as telepathy or clairvoyance.
The Super Psi hypothesis: suggests that exceptionally extensive psi abilities, combining telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, and unconscious information processing, could account for experiences that some interpret as evidence for survival after death, without requiring consciousness to continue after death.

Scientific Perspective

From the standpoint of controversial psychology and neuroscience: please, Consult with a Neurologist.

There is no accepted mechanism that explains how psi mediated communication could occur.
Reported findings remain controversial, largely because of challenges with replication and methodological disagreements.
Consequently, psi mediated communication is considered a hypothesis under investigation, not an established scientific phenomenon.

Researchers in parapsychology continue to study the possibility, while most scientists remain skeptical until stronger, consistently reproducible evidence is available.

In summary:

Psi mediated communication is the proposed transfer of information without the known senses. It includes concepts such as telepathy and clairvoyance and is used as a theoretical framework in parapsychological research to explain certain anomalous experiences. While intriguing, it has not been established as a scientifically verified form of communication.

Shervan K Shahhian

Parapsychology and Psychical Research are closely related:

The terms parapsychology and psychical research are closely related, but they are not identical. The main difference lies in their history, methods, and scope.

Psychical Research	Parapsychology
Began in the late 19th century.	Emerged in the 20th century as a more scientific discipline.
Studies all reported paranormal phenomena.	Focuses primarily on testing specific psi phenomena under controlled conditions.
Includes investigations of survival after death, hauntings, mediumship, apparitions, and psi.	Primarily studies extrasensory perception (ESP), psychokinesis (PK), and related phenomena.
Uses historical cases, eyewitness reports, field investigations, and experiments.	Emphasizes laboratory experiments, statistics, and controlled research.
More interdisciplinary, drawing from psychology, philosophy, history, and anthropology.	More closely aligned with experimental psychology and neuroscience.

Psychical Research

Psychical research is the older field, dating to the 1880s. Researchers sought to investigate claims of paranormal experiences using the best scientific methods available at the time.

Common topics may include:

Apparitions
Haunted locations
Mediumship
Near death experiences
Deathbed visions
Reincarnation research
Poltergeist cases
Survival of consciousness after death
Telepathy and clairvoyance

Psychical researchers may often combine:

Case investigations
Interviews
Historical documentation
Field observations
Laboratory experiments (when possible)

One of the earliest organizations devoted to this work was the Society for Psychical Research.

Parapsychology

Parapsychology developed later, especially in the 1930s, as researchers attempted to bring paranormal claims into the laboratory.

Typical research areas may include:

Telepathy
Clairvoyance
Precognition
Psychokinesis (PK)
Presentiment
Ganzfeld experiments
Remote viewing

Parapsychologists generally rely on:

Controlled experiments
Randomization
Statistical analysis
Replication attempts
Peer-reviewed publications

The emphasis is on determining whether there is evidence for psi that cannot readily be explained by chance, bias, or known psychological processes.

Areas of Overlap

Both fields investigate phenomena such as:

Telepathy
Clairvoyance
Precognition
Psychokinesis
Apparitions
Survival of consciousness
Mediumship

The difference is mainly how they study them.

For example:

A psychical researcher: might investigate dozens of reports of people seeing an apparition shortly before learning of a loved one’s death, comparing witness accounts and historical records.
A parapsychologist: might conduct a controlled experiment to test whether participants can accurately identify concealed images at rates above chance.

Modern Relationship

Today, the distinction is less rigid than it once was. Many researchers use methods from both traditions:

Researchers interested in survival after death often describe themselves as psychical researchers because they investigate spontaneous experiences, mediumship, and historical cases.
Researchers focused on laboratory studies of ESP and PK are more likely to identify as parapsychologists.

Both fields remain outside of controversial scientific consensus. While some studies have reported statistically significant findings, many claims have proven difficult to replicate consistently, and there is ongoing debate about methodology, interpretation, and the strength of the evidence.

In Summary

Psychical research: is the broader, older discipline that investigates a wide range of reported paranormal experiences using both field investigations and experiments.
Parapsychology: is the more specialized branch that emphasizes controlled scientific testing of psi phenomena, particularly ESP and psychokinesis.

You may think of it this way:

psychical research asks, “What kinds of unusual experiences are people reporting, and what might they mean?”

While parapsychology asks, “Can specific psi phenomena be demonstrated under controlled experimental conditions?”

Shervan K Shahhian

Consciousness researchers study the nature of conscious experience:

Consciousness researchers study the nature of conscious experience, how subjective awareness arises, how it functions, and whether it can exist independently of the mind. The field is highly interdisciplinary, involving psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, medicine, computer science, physics, and, in some cases, parapsychology.

Some of the major areas of research may include:

1. The Neural Basis of Consciousness

Researchers investigate which brain processes are associated with conscious awareness: (consult with a medical doctor)

Key questions include:

Which brain regions are necessary for consciousness?:(consult with a medical doctor)
What distinguishes conscious perception from unconscious processing?
How does anesthesia temporarily eliminate consciousness?:(consult with a medical doctor)
What happens during sleep, dreaming, and coma?: (consult with a medical doctor)

Researchers may use: (consult with a medical doctor)

fMRI
EEG
MEG
Intracranial recordings
Brain stimulation techniques

2. The “Hard Problem” of Consciousness

This asks:

Why do physical brain processes produce subjective experience at all?: (consult with a medical doctor)

For example:

Why does seeing red feel like something?
Why isn’t the brain simply processing information without any inner experience?

This remains one of philosophy’s biggest unanswered questions.

3. Altered States of Consciousness

Researchers examine:

Meditation
Hypnosis
Psychedelic experiences
Lucid dreaming
Flow states
Dissociation

Questions include:

How do these states differ from ordinary waking consciousness?
What neural changes accompany them?
Can they have therapeutic benefits?

4. Sleep and Dream Research

Scientists study:

REM sleep
Lucid dreams
Dream recall
Nightmares
Sleep paralysis

They investigate how consciousness changes during different sleep stages and why dreams occur.

6. Disorders of Consciousness

Medical researchers work with patients experiencing:: (consult with a medical doctor)

Coma: (consult with a medical doctor)
Vegetative state: (consult with a medical doctor)
Minimally conscious state: (consult with a medical doctor)
Locked in syndrome: (consult with a medical doctor)

The goals include improving diagnosis, communication, and recovery prediction: (consult with a medical doctor)

7. Artificial Consciousness

Researchers ask:

Can machines ever become conscious?

Current work explores:

Artificial intelligence
Self-awareness in machines
Cognitive architectures
Computational models of consciousness

Whether current AI systems are conscious remains a matter of philosophical debate, with no scientific consensus that they are.

8. Development of Consciousness

Researchers may study how consciousness develops:

In infants
During childhood
Across aging
In animals

Questions include:

When does self-awareness emerge?
Which animals possess forms of consciousness?

9. Near-Death Experiences (NDEs)

Some researchers investigate reports from people who were close to death.

Topics include:

Out of body experiences
Life reviews
Feelings of peace
Perceptions during cardiac arrest

Most mainstream researchers explore neurological and psychological explanations, while a minority examine whether these experiences might have implications for the possibility that consciousness can persist beyond ordinary brain function. The evidence remains debated, and no consensus has been reached.

10. Psi and Exceptional Human Experiences

Some researchers, may associate with Parapsychology or Psychical Research, investigate

reports of:

Telepathy
Precognition
Psychokinesis
Apparitions
After death communications
Mediumship

These topics remain controversial. While some researchers report statistically significant findings in certain experimental paradigms, many controversial scientists question the reliability, replicability, or interpretation of the evidence. There is no broad scientific consensus that psi phenomena have been established, because they don’t know how to explain it or do not want to accept it no matter how much evidence is out there.

Today, consciousness research spans a broad spectrum. Most scientists focus on understanding how the mind generates and supports conscious experience through neuroscience, psychology, and computational modeling. A smaller but active community explores questions about exceptional experiences, such as NDEs, reported psi phenomena, and survival related claims, using empirical methods, though these areas remain scientifically controversial.

Across all of these domains, the central goal is the same: to better understand the nature, mechanisms, and limits of conscious awareness.

Near-Death Experiences and Survival Research

Some researchers investigate whether consciousness may persist independently of the mind. Their work is controversial and not part of the controversial science, but it has generated ongoing empirical research.

Certain organizations cover a spectrum from controversial neuroscience and philosophy to research on anomalous experiences and survival claims.

Shervan K Shahhian