What Poltergeists Are
“Did that butter churn just move? ‘Cause if it did…” – Homer Simpson
Poltergeist derives its name from two German words. Poltern, which means to create a disturbance, and Geist, or ghost. This corroborates Merriam-Webster’s definition:
: a ghost that makes strange noises and causes objects to move.
But if your knowledge ends with the titular film, prepare for a mind blow. Ghosts may have nothing to do with poltergeist! Paranormal Psychoanalyst Dr. Nandor Fodor believed poltergeists were a psychokinetic outburst. In simple English, humans project energy which moves inanimate objects. The culprits are typically distressed individuals, such as those going through puberty.
So which is it – teen angst or ghost?
The truth may lie in the middle. Each tale we’ve selected features elements from both explanations. We leave it to the reader to decide
Who was right? What Poltergeists Are
Here is what we know about the six stories. Young, impressionable, men and women star in all of them. Excluding the final entry, those individuals underwent great stress. On the surface it appears that poltergeist occurrences are the same as hauntings. In 4 of the 6 stories, the poltergeists are more than noisy ghosts – they communicate with victims. We hypothesize that poltergeists prefer to hang around teenagers. And beds.
Make some noise in the comment section!
Poltergeists aren’t necessarily fun if you’ve experienced them but we’d love to hear your encounters. Or share your poltergeist theories in the comment section below.
Happy Halloween!
Reference on What Poltergeists Are, 6 Stories
Poltergeist – Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology | 2001
,strong>Dr. Nandor Fodor on Poltergeist – Hauntings – Ghosts – Psychic Phenomenon
The ‘Danny’ phenomenon attracts parapsychologists, ’48 Hours’
The Terrifying Amherst Poltergeist
Haunted Girl: Esther Cox and the Great Amherst Mystery
The Unbelievably Sad, Strange Story of a Girl and Her Poltergeist
THE MACOMB POLTERGEIST,
STRANGE EVENTS ON THE WILLEYS FARM –
NEAR MACOMB, ILLINOIS