The first thing I would ask a Paranormal Investigation Team that claims to be scientific, what is their feelings about the Ouija Board? When they attempt to give the spooky scary advice and don't use them! Your response maybe: So, you make up your own science and ignore proven actual science?
Also, for your protection, if a paranormal group calls themselves professionals, ask how much it will cost you? As the term Professional pertains to only those who are paid, all others are amateurs. Same for 'Not for Profit', ask them since they claim to be a Not-for-Profit Organization, if they can bring you their paperwork as they legally must be registered with the state and federal government, if they are claiming to be that.
Proven Science with Ouija Board.
A scientific and psychological perspective, the phenomenon of the Ouija board is primarily explained by the Ideomotor Effect.
This effect is a psychophysiological phenomenon where a person makes unconscious, involuntary muscular movements. These movements are often consistent with their expectations, suggestions, or subconscious thoughts, even if their conscious mind is not intending to move the object at all.
Here is a breakdown of the science behind the Ouija board's movement:
The Ideomotor Effect
- Unconscious Movement: When people place their fingers lightly on the planchette (the pointer), the smallest, often imperceptible, muscle contractions in their hands and arms can cause it to move.
- The Power of Suggestion and Expectation: Because the users expect the planchette to move or are subconsciously thinking of a certain letter or answer, their brain prepares the muscles for that action. This subtle preparation translates into physical movement without their conscious awareness.
- Lack of Agency: Since the users don't consciously decide to move the planchette, they genuinely feel that an external force, a spirit, in the traditional belief is guiding it. This is a very powerful psychological illusion.
- Amplification: The lightweight planchette and the smooth, frictionless surface of the board are designed to amplify these tiny, unconscious movements, making them large enough to spell out words.
The Role of the Subconscious Mind
The Research also suggests that the Ouija board can tap into knowledge that is stored in the users' subconscious mind but not readily available to their conscious awareness.
- Subconscious Knowledge: In controlled studies, participants using a Ouija board to answer questions they were unsure of actually gave correct answers more often than they did when answering verbally. This suggests that the information was held in their subconscious ("I heard that somewhere") and was accessed and expressed through the involuntary movements.
- Joint Action: When multiple people are using the board, it becomes a collective effort. Each person contributes a tiny, unconscious push or pull, and the resulting movement is an emergent property of their interacting, predictive minds. They essentially "take turns" making involuntary movements that lead to a coherent message.
In summary, the scientific consensus is that the seemingly magical movement of the planchette is a direct result of unconscious muscular movements (the ideomotor effect), amplified by the users' expectations and influenced by their subconscious thoughts and memory.
Deeper Psychological Influences
The Ideomotor Effect is the primary driver of the movement, but several other psychological concepts significantly influence what the Ouija board says and how people interpret those messages. These biases reinforce the belief that the messages are meaningful, personal, and externally generated.
1. The Barnum Effect (or Forer Effect)
The Barnum Effect explains why people tend to accept vague, general, or flattering descriptions as being uniquely tailored to them.
- How it applies to the Ouija board: The messages spelled out are often vague, highly general, or emotionally loaded (e.g., "Someone misses you," "You will find happiness," or a generic name like "James"). Users unconsciously fill in the blanks, making the message feel deeply personal and profound.
- Example: If the board spells "FEAR," a user who has recently felt anxious will instantly connect this general word to their specific situation, believing the spirit is validating their hidden struggle.
2. Confirmation Bias
This is the psychological tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's preexisting beliefs or values.
- How it applies to the Ouija board: If a user already believes the board can contact spirits, they will remember and highlight the few times the board spelled something seemingly relevant or correct.
- They will ignore, rationalize, or forget the far more frequent times the board spells gibberish, nonsensical words, or completely wrong information (e.g., "ZAXN YU").
- This selective memory strengthens their belief in the board's power.
3. Dissociation and Group Dynamics
The Ouija board is often used in a group setting, which creates its own psychological dynamic.
- Reduced Self-Monitoring (Dissociation): When focusing intently on the planchette in a group, individuals can enter a mild state of dissociation, where their conscious awareness of their own actions is reduced. This makes it easier for the ideomotor movements to occur without the user noticing, enhancing the feeling that an external force is moving it.
- Social Conformity: In a group, there is a subtle, unconscious pressure to cooperate. If one person starts pushing the planchette toward a letter, others may subtly follow or assist the movement to maintain group harmony and a successful "session." The resulting movement is truly a collaboration, though everyone feels they are only receiving the message.
These biases work together with the Ideomotor Effect to create a compelling, self-fulfilling experience. The movements are real (Ideomotor), the messages are interpreted as meaningful (Barnum Effect), and the successful instances are disproportionately remembered (Confirmation Bias).
Feel Free to re-post this.
Edward Shanahan
(C)2025 Edward Shanahan
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