Understanding the Paranormal: An Interview with Chris French

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Chris French's latest book, The Science of Weird Shit, convincingly debunks ESP, communicating with the dead, and alien abduction claims, among other phenomena. All the while, however, French maintains that our belief in such phenomena is neither ridiculous nor trivial; if anything, such claims can tell us a great deal about the human mind if we pay them the attention they are due.
 




Chris French is Emeritus Professor and Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit in the Psychology Department at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a Patron of Humanists UK. He is the coauthor of Anomalistic Psychology: Exploring Paranormal Belief and Experience.

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In the podcast, Chris French, an anomalistic psychologist, discusses his new book "The Science of Weird Shit" and the psychology behind paranormal beliefs. He argues that a full understanding of the human condition must include consideration of the psychological roots of paranormal belief and experiences. French believes that many paranormal phenomena can be explained by psychology, and he uses examples from his book to illustrate this point. He also discusses the importance of critical thinking and how studying paranormal beliefs can teach us about belief systems in general, including religious and political beliefs.

Chris French on the Science of Weird Shit

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