Psychology and Extra-Sensory Perception - Essay Example

ESP has always played a central role in the religious writings and practices of oriental religions like Hinduism and Buddhism (Pratt, Rhine, Smith & Stuart 4). The prophets in the Old Testament were mentioned to have access to knowledge inaccessible to ordinary people (Pratt, Rhine, Smith & Stuart 4). The New Testament also mentions Jesus as having the unusual ability to acquire direct knowledge (Pratt, Rhine, Smith & Stuart 4).

The followers of Franz Anton Mesmer practicing hypnosis on their patients were the first to report instances of ESP in modern times (Pratt, Rhine, Smith & Stuart 8). The British Society of Psychical Research was constituted in 1882 to research psychic phenomena like ESP. JB Rhine was the first to study ESP in a scientific context in the 20th century, he used Zener Cards to conduct experiments on ESP (Pratt, Rhine, Smith & Stuart 36).

At the current time research on ESP is being carried on at many reputed research facilities around the world. Read More