Steven LaChance Blog

What Are Ghosts, Really?

The age-old question of what a ghost truly is has captivated humanity for centuries. As someone who has spent over 23 years investigating the paranormal, I’ve witnessed my fair share of inexplicable and astonishing events. I’ve even lived through one of the most violent haunting cases on record. I have traveled the world searching for and researching the unexplained. Despite extensive global research, the answers remain elusive not only for myself but everyone else involved in this crazy quest as well.

Recent surveys reveal a persistent public fascination with the paranormal. A 2022 YouGov poll found that 35% of Americans and 42% of Brits believe in ghosts or have experienced paranormal activity. The global ghost-hunting industry is booming, projected to reach $3.5 billion by 2027. However, the nature of these experiences remains shrouded in mystery.

Many TV shows sensationalize paranormal phenomena, often prioritizing entertainment over truth. By labeling unexplained occurrences as ghosts or demons without concrete evidence, they perpetuate fear and misinformation. This makes it difficult for genuine seekers of truth to separate fact from fiction. Research from the Journal of Media Psychology has shown that watching paranormal reality TV can increase viewers’ belief in the supernatural, leading to heightened anxiety and fear.

The Koestler Parapsychology Unit at the University of Edinburgh has conducted extensive research into paranormal experiences. Their studies suggest that reported ghost sightings may be linked to psychological factors such as hallucinations and pareidolia. This underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of paranormal experiences, considering both psychological and neuroscientific factors.

Some scientists have proposed potential explanations for paranormal phenomena, such as infrasound, which can induce feelings of presence and even visual hallucinations. Others point to neuroscientific factors, like unusual brain activity, as a possible cause. A study in the journal Cortex found a correlation between increased brain activity related to attention and perception and reports of paranormal activity. It’s important to note that these explanations are partial and do not account for all paranormal experiences.The fundamental questions of what happens to individuals after death and why groups of people experience shared unexplained phenomena remain unanswered. The inexplicable movement of objects, as seen in certain activity, further defies easy explanation.

As an author and researcher, I strive to maintain an open mind. My experiences with the unexplained have raised more questions than answers. I believe that labeling the unknown can be harmful, so I prefer instead to offer analysis, thoughts, and personal beliefs. Remember, your ideas are as valid as anyone else’s. In the end, we’re all making assumptions, trying to frame evidence into clearer pictures that make logical sense.

So, what are your thoughts on the unexplained? Have you had any inexplicable experiences? Do you believe in the supernatural, or do you seek scientific explanations? Consider your own beliefs and experiences. Are they shaped by media, personal encounters, or other factors? How can you approach this topic with a critical and open-minded perspective? What do you truly believe at this point in your life?

Ask yourself the hard questions. Decide at this moment what you believe these things are and what their purpose might be. Your ideas will change and evolve as you continue to research and grow. It’s okay to change your mind and reformulate your ideas with continued experience and exploration. We are all pioneers, and as pioneers, we are allowed to have evolving thoughts and opinions. There are no right or wrong answers, and nothing is set in stone that cannot be rethought or changed.

I urge you to avoid rigid thinking and don’t blindly follow trends, especially those perpetuated by sensationalized TV shows. Approach television as entertainment, not as a source of truth. Independent thought and critical analysis are essential when dealing with the unexplained.

The truth is, we don’t know what these phenomena are. They could all be manifestations of a single source or be entirely unrelated. Perhaps we are inexplicably strange and even frightening to them. Maybe we are perceived as threatening or evil? The truth is, we don’t know, so it’s crucial to stop pretending that we do. To do otherwise is simply arrogant, misguided, and dishonest.