Have you ever found yourself looking through what seems like a sea of information on the internet?
Annoyed about finding information from someone who claims to have 30 years experience… but really only investigating for 1 year?
Sick of just knowing how to use an EMF detector and want something a little more?
Feel like every other investigator is just “winging it”?
Right then. You start searching on the internet for some sort of reliable information.
You type something like “Paranormal Phenomena” in google. Wonderful, there are pages and pages of information that comes up.
That’s great, right?
But some of this info comes from research papers written by people who have, lets just say, a more “complicated” language.
And yet this information is enormously valuable but it really can feel intimidating navigating through it all when it's written in an “academic” format. Your brain can feel like exploding just trying to get through the first paragraph.
If you do have an academic background? Awesome! I highly encourage you to explore some great case studies on the internet.
But, like me, not all investigators do have an academic background and important information like this can feel - so out of reach. The time it takes to read and re-read each paragraph to then try and comprehend can be enormously off putting.
Yet, knowing this kinda info is really beneficial and for so many reasons.
Knowing how your equipment works, setting up for an investigation and sometimes even the history of a location are key things to know about investigating. But, understanding even the basics of science and psychology are just as beneficial.
Even though this information can feel like it's hidden behind a secret language, here are the 5 most important reasons why learning the basics of science and psychology is important:
Understanding the best tool you have – your mind
Our brains are amazing instruments. And they are also built for survival. But when it comes to investigating those survival instincts can kinda be a hindrance. Think of visual pareidolia and how we can find familiarity in shapes. This is to protect us from enemies and people we don’t know but when investigating some of the most simple of shadows can look like a possible apparition.
Knowing how the outside world works
Knowing that materials can contract and expand with temperature changes to understanding air flow around a structure or building can help enormously when investigating. How many times have we heard pops and bangs to realise that it's before dawn (which is the coldest time of any 24 hour period) or that the sun has just gone down.
Saves time when investigating
Knowing even the basics of science and psychology can save so much time. If you do hear or see something you can find a PAE for (Possible Alternative Explaination) soon afterwards, this means more time spent on phenomena that can’t be explained (and possibliy paranormal!). Even when reviewing footage!
Saves money (from saving time)
Time is money, right? We investigate the paranormal because we are passionate about it and being more effective as an investigator means we can get more done in the time we are on a location.
Feel more confident investigating
Because you can become more skilled at finding your PAE (Possible Alternative Explaination), you become more confident with your knoweldge. Knowing HOW certain aspects of science and psychology works can be so rewarding. To you, to potential clients and others you investiagte with.
Knowing basic science and psycology can really up your game with investigating. It’s a way to take it to the next level after you’ve really got a handle on the key essentials.
Because you shouldn’t have to feel stuck not knowing the important stuff JUST because of the way its written.
