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This article explores the concept of the extended self, which suggests that our possessions and experiences are a part of our identity. It discusses the work of Russ Belk, a prominent figure in this field, and his influential 1988 manuscript on the extended self. The article also examines different aspects of the self, such as the material, social, and spiritual self, and how they are shaped by our interactions with others and our environment. It emphasizes the importance of considering cultural differences when studying the self and discusses the potential impact of artificial intelligence and transhumanism on our understanding of identity. The text further explores various perspectives on the self in consumer research, challenging traditional assumptions and advocating for alternative viewpoints. It highlights the significance of power relations and calls for a more proactive approach in consumer research. The article concludes by suggesting future research directions in this area. [Extracted from the article]

Russ's (Belk, 1988) extension of William James' reflections on the self has been a significant accelerant of interpretive and Consumer Culture Theoretic research. In this paper, I will outline a different way we can engage with James' oeuvre; specifically via psychical research and parapsychology. These fields are subsequently linked to recent debates on quantum interconnectedness, nonlocality, brain-computer interfaces and capitalist-materialist telepathy. This endeavour initially responds to Russ's point that 'What we call "self" is really "selves". Besides distributed selves and multiple selves shared between individuals, there are also multiple selves within individuals' (Belk, 2024, p. 571). It builds upon Craig's respective accounts by proffering materialist and post-materialist perspectives on human-human dynamics and human-computer technological affordances. As we shall see, William James encourages us to recognise multiple selves, multiple levels of consciousness, and the psychical extension of self. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harlow Gale is often depicted as the first experimentalist in advertising thought. This positioning elides influences which impacted upon his thinking. In this article, we outline Gale's involvement with psychical research and its implications for advertising. These narratives are situated within a genealogy of subliminal processes across advertising and marketing theory from the late nineteenth century through to social cognition studies today. Gale's connection with psychical research, in conjunction with early practitioner reflections on the unconscious, formed the enabling conditions for his major contributions to advertising. Psychical scholarship spotlighted the centrality of the "multiplex self" to human functioning. While psychical framings scaffolded Gale's empirical, conceptual, and theoretical work, it also limited greater engagement with his insights. However, subsequent modifications of advertising theory and practice are underwritten by levels of continuity and discontinuity that facilitate the identification of psychically indebted bodies of thought from Gale's time to the present day. Taken together, these analytic associations provide a substantive reorientation of historical and contemporary accounts of advertising theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Władysław Smólski began his writing career as an author of plays and humoresque works. Between 1939 and 1945, he was involved in helping Jews. Smólski described his war experiences in two autobiographical texts Losy dziecka: Opowieść wojenna wojenna [1961; A Child's Fate: A War Story] and Zaklęte lata [1964; Enchanted Years]. However, not all of his works have been published. The paper examines Smólski's unpublished volume of short stories, Magie [Magic], whose manuscript is stored at the National Library in Warsaw. In the first part of the paper, I introduce crucial facts of Władysław Smólski's biography, with reference to the atmosphere of the interwar period. The second part discusses the formal features of the stories comprising the volume Magic and possible reasons why the volume have not been published. The third part of the article examines selected short stories, focusing on the representation of war and functions of the paranormal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay asserts that a specter is haunting Hip-Hop. The history of the genre contains frequent ghostly references to the tragic deaths of numerous artists. More than 25 years after their untimely, and forever linked, deaths, Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) are the two most prominent of these ghosts. Their spirits continue to release tracks, appear in movies, and perform 'live' as holograms with living artists. In the spirit of this special issue, the author argues the ongoing presence and obsession with the lyrical narratives of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. are characteristic of a hauntology. To illustrate how they function rhetorically as ghosts, the author draws upon lyrics from each artist involving their much-publicized feud as well as their own obsessions with death. This essay concludes with a discussion of the ongoing cultural, historical, and rhetorical work these narratives perform, and how they remain present in ongoing struggles for racial reckoning in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illusory health beliefs are ill-founded, erroneous notions about well-being. They are important as they can influence allied attitudes, actions, and behaviors to the detriment of personal and societal welfare. Noting this, and the prevalence of paranormal beliefs in contemporary Western society, researchers developed the Paranormal Health Beliefs Scale (PHBS). Modification of the PHBS for use with a United Kingdom-based sample resulted in the instrument broadening to incorporate illusory rather than merely paranormal health beliefs. The present study psychometrically assessed the emergent Illusory Health Beliefs Scale (IHBS). The principal objective was to validate the IHBS using a large, representative sample. Eight hundred and fifty participants (360 males, 482 females, eight non-binary) completed the IHBS alongside instruments assessing theoretically associated constructs (i.e., magical thinking, faith in scientifically unsubstantiated notions, and forms of self-referential, intuitive causation). Exploratory factor analysis revealed the existence of six meaningful IHBS dimensions: Religious/Spiritual, Superstition, Precognitive, Health Myths, Skepticism, and Health Pseudoscience. The IHBS demonstrated satisfactory reliability and convergent validity with theoretically aligned constructs. Rasch analysis at the subscale level revealed good item/person fit and item/person reliability, unidimensionality, and equivalency of items across subgroups (gender and religious affiliation). Analysis confirmed the IHBS was an effective measure of illusory health beliefs. However, researchers should undertake further work to refine the scale and evaluate its performance across different samples and time points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decline effect (DE) has been discussed in "psi" research since the early times of experimental investigations, and many causes have been advanced from: individual psychology, social attitudes, electromagnetic fields, experimental artifacts, or physical properties often related to quantum physics. Bierman (2001) found small and statistically significant decline slopes in all experimental protocols, but the mind-matter interaction with random number generators, where he found a positive quadratic polynomial slope. This study aimed to update Bierman's results, taking into account all studies completed up to 2023 and analyzed in different meta-analyses. Five experimental protocols were analyzed: including anomalous perception in a Ganzfeld condition, remote viewing, forced-choice design in extra-sensory perception, predictive physiological anticipation, and dream extra-sensory perception studies. The results showed that only one slope coefficient out of the five examined was statistically significant, indicating that there was no evidence of a general DE across the different experimental protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ian Stevenson was trained as a physician and, later, as a psychiatrist. He made significant contributions to biochemistry, psychosomatic medicine, and other areas before turning to parapsychology in mid-career. From the start of his involvement in parapsychology, Stevenson was interested in claims to remember previous lives. As his research with such claims progressed, he became convinced of reincarnation's potential to shed light on unresolved problems in medicine. This paper describes the background and traces the development of Stevenson's classic collection of case reports, Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation, whose first edition appeared in 1966. Stevenson expected his monograph to be recognized as making the important contribution he believed it did and thought that it would lead to public funding for further research on reincarnation. Sixty years on that has yet to happen, perhaps due to Stevenson's emphasis on the proof-oriented aspects of the cases he reported, to the neglect of other issues that might have connected more easily with mainstream interests, and more directly countered criticisms of his research methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite broad skepticism within the scientific community regarding paranormal phenomena such as ghosts and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), many members of the public believe in these phenomena. Previous studies have argued that viewing paranormal-themed television—including documentary, reality, and news programming—can cultivate such beliefs. In addition, recent research suggests that the online video-sharing platform YouTube may serve as an important source of messages about fringe phenomena. With that in mind, this study builds on theoretical accounts of genre-specific cultivation and social media affordances to examine how YouTube videos present paranormal topics and whether YouTube use predicts belief in the paranormal. A content analysis of 50 highly viewed YouTube videos about paranormal topics (25 about hauntings and 25 about UFOs) showed that a large majority of these videos featured paranormal claims and that a majority included purported footage of paranormal phenomena. Scientific sources appeared in only a quarter of UFO videos and almost no haunting videos, while government sources appeared in most UFO videos, but few haunting videos. An analysis of data from a survey of the U.S. public (n = 1,035), in turn, found that paranormal documentary or reality television viewing, paranormal news use, and YouTube use predicted belief in hauntings, controlling for a range of other media use variables and background factors. These results highlight the potential for video-sharing platforms such as YouTube to reinforce paranormal beliefs among the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the involvement of undergraduate students in "Many Labs" style studies, where multiple research groups collaborate to replicate or test psychological effects across different sites. While these studies offer benefits such as increased sample sizes and reduced researcher bias, there are shortcomings in providing training and opportunities for undergraduates. The authors suggest improvements like offering theoretical resources, clearer study protocols, and opportunities for data analysis and conference presentations to enhance the student experience in these studies. Ultimately, the article emphasizes the importance of supporting undergraduate researchers in collaborative scientific endeavors. [Extracted from the article]

Dr. Sudhir Kakar, a renowned psychoanalyst and cultural thinker from India, made significant contributions to the understanding of unconscious processes in individual and collective life. His work went beyond studying the relationship between culture and the psyche to exploring the psyche within civilizational flows. Dr. Kakar emphasized empathy and compassion in psychoanalysis and aimed to bridge differences and create dialogical spaces between seemingly incompatible social binaries. His global recognition and translated books reflect the impact of his work. Dr. Kakar passed away in 2024 after battling cancer, leaving behind a profound intellectual legacy. [Extracted from the article]

The focus of this two-part work is Love's enormous potential, as 'the force of all creation,' to empower humanity's transformation to a peaceful sustainable world. Such radical change requires the full spectrum of human faculties and proficiencies—viz, those of the intellect and those of the heart. Part One documents love's generative role in biopsychosocial function, and love's vital role in our psychic proficiencies—the powers of heart, mind, and spirit to shape reality. In Part Two, a quantum holographic theory describes how Love-held Will can induce change, through the psychoenergetic processes of psi-formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Part One (Bradley, 2024b), Love's ubiquitous power was documented—both for human biopsychosocial function, and for accessing higher consciousness and psychic proficiencies. Here, in Part Two, a quantum holographic account elucidates love's vital role in psychic interactions—viz, intuition and intention. Psi-formation—psychically induced change—is the power of mind through spirit to shape reality. The concepts of multiscale entanglement and oscillatory entrainment are developed to explain how instant nonlocal communication occurs and how focused intention—psi-formation—can change reality. Reformulation of Tiller's 'reaction equation' highlights Love's role in the relations of creation among Consciousness, Love, Energy, Information, and Matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this two-part work is Love's enormous potential, as 'the force of all creation,' to empower humanity's transformation to a peaceful sustainable world. Such radical change requires the full spectrum of human faculties and proficiencies—viz, those of the intellect and those of the heart. Part One documents love's generative role in biopsychosocial function, and love's vital role in our psychic proficiencies—the powers of heart, mind, and spirit to shape reality. In Part Two, a quantum holographic theory describes how Love-held Will can induce change, through the psychoenergetic processes of psi-formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) significantly impacts morbidity and mortality, yet local PTE data remain scarce. In addition, there is a lack of evidence on cognitive comorbidity in individuals with PTE in the literature. We sought to identify potential PTE predictors and evaluate cognitive comorbidity in patients with PTE. Methods: A 2‐year retrospective cohort study was employed, in which adults with a history of admission for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 2019 and 2020 were contacted. Three hundred one individuals agreed to participate, with a median follow‐up time of 30.75 months. The development of epilepsy was ascertained using a validated tool and confirmed by our neurologists during visits. Clinical psychologists assessed the patients' cognitive performance. Results: The 2‐year cumulative incidence of PTE was 9.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.9–12.7). The significant predictors of PTE were identified as a previous history of brain injury [hazard ratio [HR] 4.025, p =.021], and intraparenchymal hemorrhage (HR: 2.291, p =.036), after adjusting for other confounders. TBI patients with PTE performed significantly worse on the total ACE‐III cognitive test (73.5 vs 87.0, p =.018), CTMT (27.5 vs 33.0, p =.044), and PSI (74.0 vs 86.0, p =.006) than TBI patients without PTE. A significantly higher percentage of individuals in the PTE group had cognitive impairment, compared to the non‐PTE group based on ACE‐III (53.6% vs 46.4%, p =.001) and PSI (70% vs 31.7%, p =.005) scores at 2 years post‐TBI follow‐up. Significance: This study emphasizes the link between TBI and PTE and the chance of developing cognitive impairment in the future. Clinicians can target interventions to prevent PTE by identifying specific predictors, which helps them make care decisions and develop therapies to improve patients' quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores scaling deep through transformative learning in Public Sector Innovation Labs (PSI labs) as a pathway to increase the impacts of their work. Using literature review and participatory action research with two PSI labs in Vancouver and Auckland, we provide descriptions of how they enact transformative learning and scaling deep. A shared ambition for transformative innovation towards social and ecological wellbeing sparked independent moves towards scaling deep and transformative learning which, when compared, offer fruitful insights to researchers and practitioners. The article includes a PSI lab typology and six moves to practice transformative learning and scaling deep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Belief in psi, which includes psychic phenomena such as extra-sensory perception and post-mortem survival, is widespread yet controversial. According to one of the leading and perhapsmost tested hypotheses, high belief in psi can be explained by differences in various aspects of cognition, including cognitive styles. Most of this research has been conducted with lay individuals. Here, we tested the hypothesis that academic researchers who investigate psi may exhibit different cognitive styles than lay individuals interested in psi, and are more similar to skeptics. Methods: We measured two cognitive styles--actively open-minded thinking (AOT) and the need for closure (NFC)--and assessed differences among four heterogeneous groups regarding belief in psi and involvement in related research. Specifically, our study included academic psi researchers (N = 44), lay individuals who believe in psi (N = 32), academics who are skeptics of psi (N = 35), and lay individuals who are skeptics (N = 33). Results: We found group differences in AOT (p = 0.003) but not in NFC scores (p = 0.67). Post hoc tests showed no significant difference in AOT scores between academics who conduct psi research (4.5 ± 0.3) and academic skeptics (4.5 ± 0.3; p = 0.91) or lay skeptics (4.5 ± 0.4; p = 0.80). The lay psi group had significantly lower AOT scores (4.2 ± 0.4) than the other three groups (ps: 0.005-0.04), indicating a decreased willingness to consider a range of evidence when forming an opinion, including evidence that challenges their beliefs. AOT was negatively associated with psi belief in the two skeptic groups combined (r = -0.29, p = 0.01), but not in the psi groups (r = -0.03, p = 0.78). Discussion: Our research shows that academics who work with psi differ from lay psi individuals, but not from skeptics, in actively open-minded thinking. In other words, despite their high belief in psi phenomena, psi researchers demonstrate a commitment to sound reasoning about evidence that is no different from that of skeptics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the "Seven Deadly Author Sins" that hinder scientific progress, including ideological bias, restricted data-sharing, plagiarism, and inadequate funding. The importance of peer review and adhering to professional conduct in scientific papers is emphasized. The challenges faced by journal editors in maintaining integrity and standards are discussed, with a call for further research on authors' attitudes and behaviors to improve journal operations. The article acknowledges the pressure authors face to publish in high-profile journals and encourages courteous behavior to support efficient scientific publishing. [Extracted from the article]

"A Critical Investigation Into Precognitive Dreams" by Paul Kiritsis is a scholarly book that explores the concept of precognitive dreams. The author presents research and case studies to support the existence of precognition, challenging traditional views of time and discussing the impact of influential thinkers. The book also offers a scientific framework for studying precognition and explores its implications on human intentionality and free will. While the book may be challenging for some readers due to its scientific content and metaphysical language, it is recommended for open-minded individuals interested in exploring the topic of precognition. [Extracted from the article]

The article titled "Lefty, Alice, and Jim" explores the experiences of James McClenon and his group, known as the M-group, as they investigate anomalous phenomena. The group assigns personal names to inanimate objects, such as Lefty and Alice, which seem to display life and purpose. McClenon, a sociologist, aims to understand how anomalous experiences can lead to collective belief systems and the development of magic-like ideas. The article discusses the results of virtual group sessions focused on producing séance-room phenomena and observing pinwheel movements. The findings suggest that group activity and emotional events can influence the movement of pinwheels. The author proposes a theoretical framework called First Sight Theory (FST), which suggests that psi (psychic) abilities have two sides: receptive/perceptive (ESP) and active/expressive (PK). The author argues that PK is something people do unconsciously and that it primarily operates within the body and mind. The author also discusses the role of affect, social context, and group dynamics in facilitating or inhibiting the expression of psi abilities. The study found that pinwheel movement was more pronounced during meetings focused on psi-related topics and when group members were open and invested in the possibility of PK. The author suggests that forming a group with a shared interest in PK and creating a supportive and open social context can enhance the expression of psi abilities. The study also found that laughter, depending on its context, may or may not be associated with the [Extracted from the article]

The article "A Multi-Method Perspective on Psi" examines James McClenon's study of psi phenomena, focusing on the theoretical models that influenced his work. McClenon initially conducted experiments without controls, making it challenging to interpret the results scientifically. The article discusses two models, the Universal Creative Principle (UCP) and the Model of Pragmatic Information (MPI), which offer different explanations for the elusiveness of psi phenomena and the need for controls. The article also explores various theories and models related to paranormal phenomena, expressing skepticism about the lack of systematic implementation in the experiments. It emphasizes the importance of terminological caution and cultural influences on beliefs about the paranormal. Overall, the article provides a comprehensive perspective on psi phenomena and encourages critical examination in different contexts. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Embodied Psi: The Next Turn in Parapsychology" explores the challenges of providing scientific evidence for paranormal phenomena in parapsychology. It argues that traditional scientific criteria are not suitable for studying these phenomena, as they do not consider the entanglement and embodiment of psychophysical systems. The article introduces the Model of Pragmatic Information (MPI) as a framework that acknowledges the limitations and uncertainties in studying paranormal phenomena. It also discusses the concept of embodied psi and its implications for parapsychology research, suggesting that traditional experimental settings may not be appropriate and proposing a new approach that focuses on studying psi in real-world situations. The article also considers the role of the experimenter in the elusive nature of psi phenomena, rather than attributing it to supernatural entities. [Extracted from the article]

The author conducted weekly online group psychokinesis (PK) experiments between Aug. 9, 2019 and Feb. 25, 2023, with the goal of experiencing collective PK. Participant observation experiments were designed to uncover variables associated with group PK experiences rather than prove the existence of PK. Early experiments seemed to increase individual propensity for spontaneous anomalous experience. The group began attempting to influence pinwheel turning on June 12, 2020. Direct observation seemed to reduce pinwheel turning. Certain conversational elements, such as emotion and discussion of psychical research, seemed to enhance turning. A motionactivated Blink camera was incorporated into the protocol on November 8, 2021, allowing documentation of 44 pinwheel experiments. Experiences involved ostensible anomalous pinwheel turning, equipment failures, poltergeist-like events, and trickster effects. Quantitative results included: (1) Significantly more pinwheel turning, as measured by camera activations, during group meetings compared to equivalent nongroup periods; (2) Certain discussion topics were associated with rapid turning: occult traditions, psychic readings, psychical research; and (3) Other variables were associated with reduced turning: direct observation, relaxation exercise, miscellaneous discussion topics. Participants felt that the pinwheels exhibited a form of intelligence due to the pinwheel response to group discussion. Trickster effects included turning patterns that changed over time, unusual equipment failures, and 'hiding' behavior thwarting full verification. These features suggest that the replicability of findings may be limited, although a series of methodological guidelines are suggested to increase success. Grounded theory strategies allow theory development, and a new model is proposed to account for the phenomena in question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review discusses two books by Maria Pierri that explore the connection between psychoanalysis and occultism. The first book examines how occultism influenced the development of psychoanalytic insights and relationships during its founding era. The second book focuses on thought transmission and uncanny coincidences during Sigmund Freud's encounter with an English patient. The review highlights three important themes raised by the books: the historical relationships between psychoanalytic thinkers and occultism, the connection between occult experiences and psychoanalytic ideas, and the influence of occultism on psychoanalysis's priorities and research. The books are written in a unique style that combines elements of a novel, historical text, and psychoanalytic text. While the style may be refreshing, some readers may prefer a more direct approach. The review also explores Freud's relationship with Carl Jung and suggests that occultism may have been used as an escape from personal difficulties and as a proxy for their unresolved conflicts. The books offer fascinating observations about the unconscious origins and mechanics of occult and spiritual phenomena, such as telepathy and coincidences. Pierri suggests that these phenomena may be rooted in pre-verbal communication and shared emotions. The review acknowledges that the books do not provide a comprehensive investigation of the relationship between psychoanalysis and occultism, but they offer valuable insights into the lives of psychoanalytic founders and their engagement with occult and spiritual experiences. [Extracted from the article]

A key question of public sector innovation (PSI) scholarship is: which factors influence innovation? This paper focuses on managerial practices as drivers of PSI and addresses two research questions. First, how have the main types of managerial reforms—pertaining to marketization, results‐orientation, and collaboration—influenced PSI? Second, how have different features of public sector reform strategies influenced PSI? Using survey data from 19 European countries, we show that reforms focusing on collaboration and results‐orientation facilitate PSI, while marketization‐type reforms have no significant impact. Our study indicates that reforms initiated by public administration (rather than politicians) are more conducive to PSI. We also show that reforms that are crisis‐driven and reforms oriented toward cost cutting have negative impacts on PSI. Overall, our findings demonstrate that New Public Governance‐type reforms exert more positive influence on PSI than NPM‐type reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides information about May Incledon, the aunt of J.R.R. Tolkien, and her significant role in his life. May and her sister Mabel converted to Catholicism, which influenced Tolkien's upbringing. May acted as a substitute mother for Tolkien and supported him financially. The document explores the social and financial standing of the Incledon family and their possible contribution to Tolkien's works. It also discusses the dynamics and beliefs of the Incledon family and their influence on Tolkien. The text highlights the connections between Tolkien's personal life and his writings, including his cousin Mary Incledon's influence on his work. The document suggests that further research into May Incledon and her family will reveal new insights into Tolkien's life and work. [Extracted from the article]

AbstractParanormal believers’ thinking is frequently biased by intuitive beliefs. Lack of inhibition of these tempting beliefs is considered a key element in paranormal believers’ thinking. However, the brain process related to cognitive control and dual mechanism control (DMC) in paranormal believers is poorly understood. Given the critical role of cognitive control in paranormal beliefs, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of DMC in paranormal beliefs in two behavioral and brain stimulation experiments. In the first experiment, participants were screened based on The Revised Paranormal Belief Scale (RPBS) and were divided into two groups with skeptics and paranormal believers and performed the AX continuous Performance task (AX-CPT). In the second experiment, paranormal believers were randomly assigned into one of three groups of rDLPFC, rIFG, and Sham stimulation (2 mA, 20 min) while performing the AX-CPT task. The results of the first experiment showed that there was a significant difference between groups (believers vs. skeptics) in the BX, BY trials, and AX and BY trials in RT and accuracy respectively. Additionally, the results of the second experiment showed that there was a significant difference between the rDLPFC and Sham groups in the BY trial on RT. There was also a significant difference between the rDLPFC and rIFG groups in the BX trial. In addition, the results showed a significant difference between the rDLPFC and rIFG groups in the BX, and BY trials on accuracy. These findings highlight the relationship between DMC, paranormal beliefs, and the underlying neural mechanisms.