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Educating Parapsychologists
Journal of Parapsychology, The, Sept, 1999 by Matthew D. Smith
One approach which may help to integrate parapsychology within psychology is to emphasize links between parapsychology and other areas which are already becoming increasingly integrated within the psychological sciences. Two such areas are the scientific study of consciousness and transpersonal psychology. In Britain, these areas are becoming increasingly recognized as important subdisciplines of academic psychology as illustrated by the inauguration of two new Sections of the British Psychological Society in 1997: The Consciousness and Experiential Psychology Section and the Transpersonal Psychology Section. In Liverpool, we have built upon this growing interest by establishing a Consciousness and Transpersonal Psychology Research Unit. The Unit is based within the Centre for Applied Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University although it also comprises members who are based in the Psychology Department at Liverpool Hope University College. Not only are the members of the Unit engaged in research, including experimental research in parapsychology, but we are also very much involved with teaching these areas at both an undergraduate level (as part of a BSc in Applied Psychology at John Moores University, and as part of a BSc or BA in Combined Subjects at Liverpool Hope University College) and graduate level (through supervising PhDs and through teaching an MSc in Consciousness and Transpersonal Psychology). The teaching and research of parapsychology sits comfortably within this framework.
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Another approach is to emphasize the central importance of rigorous scientific methodology and statistical analysis in parapsychological research. Research methods and statistics are typically among the least popular courses among undergraduate psychology students. However, illustrating their relevance and utility in a popular and controversial context like parapsychology can be a way of engaging all students.
In short, I believe that the teaching of parapsychology in the wider context of psychology alongside other, perhaps more conventional, areas of psychology is not only of value to students but is also likely to enhance the prospects for the future development of the field.
I mentioned above that, as far as I am aware, it is still not possible to obtain an undergraduate degree in parapsychology. Personally, I do not see this as a problem. Indeed, I would not regard undergraduate degrees in "pure" parapsychology as a desirable aim of educators for the foreseeable future. Until parapsychology gains a greater standing in academia (which, as I have argued, is most likely to be achieved through increased integration with disciplines like psychology), or until research posts in parapsychology become more common (which, I suggest is only likely if and when funders can be convinced of the potential applications of psi), I fear that a degree in parapsychology will be worth very little. Instead, as I have argued, we should aim to introduce students to the methods and findings of parapsychology as part of a wider education in, say, psychology. Suitably qualified students may then go on to research and teach parapsychology within the wider context of psychology (or whatever the larger disc ipline maybe).
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