Ghosts
Ghosts are often viewed as the souls of deceased individuals existing in a distinct realm separate from the living. Typically lacking a physical form, ghosts can manifest as apparitions resembling the deceased or take on various other appearances. Throughout history, people have claimed to communicate with ghosts, often through individuals known as mediums, although the authenticity of such communication remains unverified. Cultural beliefs about ghosts vary widely; some traditions depict them as restless spirits, while others present benevolent entities that watch over the living.
Ghosts are known by various names across different languages and cultures, commonly referred to as spirits or phantoms in English. The fascination with ghosts has led to their prominent role in folklore, literature, theater, and more recent media, evolving significantly from ancient ghost stories to modern interpretations that often emphasize horror rather than benevolence. Despite the scientific skepticism surrounding their existence—particularly within parapsychology, which investigates paranormal phenomena—ghosts continue to captivate the imagination of many. Haunted locations, such as certain historic homes and cemeteries, have become famous for their alleged ghostly activity, further fueling public interest in the supernatural.
Subject Terms
Ghosts
A ghost is usually considered to be the soul of a dead person that inhabits a different world or dimension than that of the living. Ghosts have no physical body, just an illusion of a body. A ghost can appear in the form of a deceased person or take on different appearances. People have claimed to have communicated with ghosts throughout history—although such communication is said to be difficult because ghosts are believed to dwell outside the living world. People called mediums claim that they are capable of communicating with ghosts. Little evidence is available to validate their authenticity, however.
The science of parapsychology attempts to prove the existence of supernatural beings such as ghosts, but evidence is scarce in this field of inquiry. Such belief in the supernatural is called supernaturalism. Though many ghosts are perceived as angry and restless souls denied a peaceful afterlife, some folklore depicts good-natured ghosts who look out for people. Perceptions of ghosts often vary from culture to culture. Ghosts go by many names in different languages. Some English examples include spirits, apparitions, specters, phantoms, spooks, and poltergeists.
History
People have talked and prayed to the ghosts of their ancestors for thousands of years in an effort to appease them and keep them from interfering in their lives. This practice of ancestor worship was common in many traditional African and traditional East Asian cultures. The Ancient Egyptians had similar beliefs about the dead and buried corpses with various trinkets and offerings as an act of reverence. Following in the footsteps of the Egyptians, the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations also believed that the souls of the dead could appear to the living. References to apparitions of dead souls were later found in ancient Hebrew scripture. When the Europeans began exploring the New World, they listened intently to the natives' accounts of ghosts.
The existence of ghosts came into question during the scientific revolution of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Many instances that had previously been termed "supernatural" could now be disproved by science. Though some religions retained their belief in the supernatural and the afterlife, ghost stories were soon relegated to fictional narratives and were later manifested in the horror genre of film and literature.
Few people draw upon the ancient religious notion of ancestral spirits and a peaceful afterlife when referring to ghosts in modern times. Though these spiritual beliefs influenced classic ghost stories, modern tales began ignoring the benevolent specter in favor of a more sorrowful or sinister presence. Many popular ghost stories were scary tales involving violent ghosts with varying motives.
Interest in ghosts flourished as a result of sensational storytelling in literature. Modern ghost stories were often filled with dark descriptions of shadowy figures with harmful intentions. Most of these stories were rooted in ancient folk tales, however. Ancient ghost stories continued to influence modern supernatural literature for centuries.
Ghost imagery has taken on many forms throughout history, but some attributes have consistently appeared in various folklore and fiction. A common portrayal of a ghost is the vision of a white, cloudy mist. Historians believe ancient peoples equated this image with ghosts because it resembled a person's breath in the cold air. Shadows were also associated with ghostly visions. Some ancient cultures related shadows to a person's soul. A disconnected shadowy figure was by extension considered a lost or dead soul, cut off from its physical body.
Ghosts in Popular Culture
With origins in folklore and myth, ghosts have always been closely linked to popular culture. They have been referenced in the art, theater, music, and literature of many peoples, serving to reinforce themes ranging from horror to comedy. The modern Western conception of ghosts, while influenced by ancient folk tales and famous works by William Shakespeare and others, is most strongly influenced by Victorian-era literature. It was in that period that authors solidified the themes that are recognizable as the traditional ghost story. Notably, many depictions of ghosts from the mid-1800s onward included elements from the growing field of psychology. Changing trends in religious belief further affected the way Western society viewed ghosts.
The evolution of mass media in the twentieth century also significantly influenced popular images of ghosts, especially in the development of more child-friendly imagery. One of the most famous examples is the character Casper the Friendly Ghost, developed in the 1930s for a children's book and soon turned into a popular cartoon. Television and film exposed audiences to a wide variety of ghosts, both in the traditional horror format and in contexts such as comedy and romance. The live-action comedy film Ghostbusters (1984) also helped popularize the notion of ghost hunting, which became a common subject of reality television programs in which crews attempt to document evidence of real ghosts.
Parapsychology
Though most scientific rationale denies the existence of ghosts, some sciences are aimed at discovering the presence of ghosts in the human world. Established in the late nineteenth century, the field of parapsychology is dedicated to investigating paranormal, or supernatural, occurrences called parapsychological phenomena. Parapsychologists refer to ghost encounters as apparitional experiences. These experiences are not limited to visual events and can involve the observance of dead people or animals. An apparition can also be a possessed inanimate object.
Parapsychologists often investigate claims of hauntings. When a ghost is described as persistently appearing in the living world, it is haunting the place that it visits. Hauntings can range from a simple nuisance to a violent presence. Ghosts are often described as haunting the places that were important to them when they were alive, such as their homes. Haunted houses have played an important role in popular horror culture for many centuries. Many fictional horror tales are based on real-life accounts of house hauntings. The Whaley House in San Diego, California, is considered one of the most haunted houses in the nation, and many guests claim to have had ghostly experiences there. A house in Amityville, New York, also claims to be haunted, and several books and films have been inspired by these claims. Cemeteries are also cited as places that experience many hauntings. To date, only inconclusive evidence exists supporting the presence of ghosts in the human world. Many people remain convinced that ghosts are real, however.
Bibliography
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Clarke, Roger. A Natural History of Ghosts: 500 Years of Hunting for Proof. New York: Penguin, 2012. Print.
Luhrmann, T. M. "Ghosts Are Back!" New York Times. New York Times, 29 Oct. 2014. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.
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Merriam-Webster Dictionary. "Definition of Ghost." Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Web. 22 Sept. 2014.
Morton, Lisa. Ghosts: A Haunted History. London: Reaktion, 2015. Print.
The Parapsychological Association. "Key Words Frequently Used in Parapsychology." Parapsychological Association. Parapsychological Assn. Web. 22 Sept. 2014.
Watts, Linda S. Encyclopedia of American Folklore. New York: Infobase, 2006. Print.