Polygraphs ; Reliable or Psuedoscience?

I have always been into crime shows and there are many instances where polygraphs are used. Before I really heard about the details of polygraph tests I thought that they must be reliable. But after learning about them and further researching them I’ve found they are anything but reliable. The polygraph has been around for over 50 years and even though the tests and machines have become more sophisticated, the technology has not fundamentally changed. A polygraph is a device that detects and charts physiological responses such as heart rate, reparation, skin moisture and blood pressure. The premise behind this is that people send out involuntary physiological responses when they tell a lie and a trained polygrapher is thought to be able to detect this.

The problem with this test is that it is pseudoscience. Those who are polygraphist will swear up and down that is reliable and their findings are accurate, but there is no empirical evidence supporting this. What it comes down to is that feelings cannot be detected. A person cannot accurately detect a lie or the truth. Every person deals with things differently and to measure whether a person is lying by their heart rate and other traits is not an effective technique. A polygraphist also usually has a preconceived notion of the guilt or innocence of the subject before they start their test. This gives them the advantage because the polygraphist is who ultimately interprets the tests findings thus can also sway them to interpret the results in the direction they want. Also as I previously stated every person deals with a situation differently. Even an innocent person can become anxious or nervous when being interrogated thus throwing off the chart and giving false readings of deception when in reality they just are nervous under pressure. This also can work in the other direction. Subjects who are guilty may pass with flying colors just because they work well under pressure. The test can often form false positives and false negatives therefore the validity of the test cannot be proven.

Polygraph
Art of Deception

Dream catchers

Have you ever had a bad dream, and wished there was a way to stop them? My mom bought me a dream catcher once when I was a little girl and told me that it would catch all my bad dreams so I wouldn't be afraid. Obviously this didn't work. I mean how was a circle with a bunch of strings and beads supposed to catch my bad dreams? It's unrealistic, but it helps little kids sleep all the time.

The legend of the dream catcher is one of the oldest Native American legends. There are many different sites that have a different story. The one I found the most went like this. It begins with an elder spiritual leader who had a vision about Iktomi a spider. The spider spun a web while talking to the elder about the life cycle. This web included a feather, horse hair, beads, and willow hoop. After the spider was done he gave the finished product to the elder and told him that this would help people reach their goals by being led by good spirits. The bad ones would be trapped in the web. This was passed on to children who would sleep with them above their heads so their bad dreams would be caught. Another legend talks about the Ojibway people and that they would tie sinew strands in a web around a small round frame.

But no matter the origins, the purpose of the dream catcher was still the same, to keep the bad dreams away. I had one most of my life, but I don't think it did anything. I still have bad dreams. Other people swear by them. So it's up to you whether you believe in them or not.


Sources:
http://www.dream-catchers.org/dream-catcher-history.php
http://www.native-languages.org/dreamcatchers.htm

"Bless You"

I always wondered why we tell people “bless you” after sneezing. There are many explanations to how and why this superstition started. One explanation is that the practice or tradition of blessing a sneeze dates back to 77AD. The custom originally began as an actual blessing by Pope Gregory in 590AD. An outbreak of the bubonic plague was closing in on Rome and sneezing was thought to be an early symptom. Saying "God Bless You" was thought to be a common halt to the disease. Another explanation for the reason behind this superstition when someone sneezes are that legend has it that your heart stops every time you sneeze. Saying "God Bless You" was supposed to ensure that you would continue living and your heart would continue beating. Another legend explaining the phrase "God Bless You" was that people believed that your soul could be thrown from your body when you sneeze. It was believed that sneezing opened up your body to invasion by the devil or evil spirits. Another thought was that sneezing was the bodies' effort to force out invading evil spirits. Lastly, many people used to believe that sneezing was a sign that God would answer your prayers or that sneezing was an omen of good fortune or good luck. The phrase "God Bless You" was recognition of that luck.

Chupacabra, Goat Sucker

The section about the Chupacabra in Chapter 10 was most appealing since I remember learning about this story during middle school. This creature seemed like a good excuse for those animals and farm animals that turned up brutally killed.

The story of the Chupacabra started in Puerto Rico, the creature has been described with many different forms, through various claims. The creature is said to look like a reptilian creature from some accounts, while other descriptions are circulating, this is the most common.
The first animals slain by this creature were goats, hence the name, goat sucker. The claims say that the creature, not only kills pets and fam animals, but also drains the blood and eviscerates the bodies as well. Those bodies left behind by the creature were thought to be attacked by mentally ill, violent humans; snakes and/or vampire bats. The Chupacabra had also caused physical and mental harm to those villagers who were extremely effected by the deaths and killings of this creature.

I think a more likely scenario for the reason this legend was started and survived can be answered simply. The animals and pets being killed are most likely 'victims' of wild dogs and/or animals. In response, the scared villagers came up with this story, based on old legends and folklore of vampires and other mythical creatures.

While writing this post I found an interesting video, that shows an 'actual' carcass of the creature known as the Chupacabra. I personally do not see how anyone could mistake the carcass offered by the video to be the Chupacabra, but it is up for discussion. I think this story just adds to the legends' legacy.

Lawson. T. (2007). Scientific perspectives on pseudoscience and the paranormal: Readings for general psychology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Eduacation, Inc.

http://www.kidzworld.com/article/2151-el-chupacabra

*Click on the link, or title of my post to see the video*
http://youtu.be/jwTGcGTLAqA

Predicting your future through Tarot cards

We all can remember Miss Cleo and her ridiculously catchy commercials that played about twenty times during one TV show. Some of us may remember the law suit that she just did not see coming. Many people, like Miss Cleo, advertise Tarot card readings as a way of predicting the future. Truth is Tarot cards were not meant to be used for such a purpose. The use of the cards can date back to 1440 where there is a clear difference from traditional playing cards to cards called triumph cards. These cards were used as a game not as a way of predicting the future. It was not until 1781 when occult members in France and England came across the cards that they had any spiritual meaning behind them.

The cards used today are meant to be guides to future possibilities. I was surprised while during my research I came across a familiar name, Carl Jung. He believed in synchronicity which states that there are many different possibilities that have different consequences in life and if we open our minds we can see the signs all around us. Although Jung was not a follower of Tarot cards, the cards use the same basic principle to open up a person's mind to the different possibilities.

The media will trick people out of their money any way they can. Tarot cards were never meant to predict the future, only show people another solution to whatever problem they may be facing. In Miss Cleo's case, she promised predictions with wealth and love, inciting for any person. However, when the numbers stopped adding up she was shown for what she really is, a scam artist. Is it possible that their are other paths in life to choose besides the one we are already on? I would like to think so, if not what is the point in living if everything is predestinated?

Chewing Gum if Swallowed, Sits in Your Stomach for 7 Years

When I was younger and was finally allowed to start chewing bubble gum, my parents, teachers and friends warned me that if I swallowed my gum, and didn’t spit it out like I was supposed to, my gum wouldn’t digest, but it would sit in my stomach for 7 years.

Little did I know, gum doesn’t sit in your stomach for 7 years. It digests along with the other food. It doesn’t do any harm to your body if you swallow it (although gum wasn’t made to swallow) the gum will just pass through your digestive system. It doesn’t stick to your insides, it just passes like normal food! "Nothing would reside that long, unless it was so large it couldn't get out of the stomach or it was trapped in the intestine." (Liddle). Just the sugar in the gum is digested. The rest of it, since it is made of rubbers, it cannot be digested. So no fear, your gum will not sit in your stomach for 7 years! It passes along like normal food.

http://listverse.com/2009/02/15/top-10-common-medical-myths/

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=fact-or-fiction-chewing-gum-takes-seven-years-to-digest

Jen Custer

Raindrop Therapy

Raindrop therapy, otherwise known as raindrop technique is a popular body treatment currently used by numerous spas around the country. Similar to aromatherapy, raindrop therapy uses therapeutic oils that contain "healing powers". The patient lays face down while these oils are dropped along their spine. They are gently massaged into the skin and a hot towel is applied to drive the oils further into the body.
There is no massage experience required by the practitioner, since the efficiency of the technique is due to the oils. The oils used are said to get rid of toxins and kill bacteria and viruses along the spine. The technique has supposedly resolved many cases of scoliosis, hunch back, chronic back pain, digestive system discomfort, and has eliminated the need for back surgery for hundreds of clients.
Although raindrop therapy seems miraculous, there is no published clinical evidence that the technique can be used to adjust spinal curvatures or align electric and structural elements. The client should also be aware that they are at risk for potential skin reactions from the oils, especially those with allergies, asthma, and other health problems. Due to the unsafe use of the essential oils, as well as the unpublished claims, raindrop therapy is not supported as a "best practice".




http://www.suite101.com/content/raindrop-technique-a24032
http://www.blissfuljourneydayspa.com/Rain-Drop-Therapy.html
http://www.naturesgift.com/RDT.htm
http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/young.html

The "Mozart Effect"

The "Mozart Effect" is a simplistic theory that essentially says listening to classic music, or Mozart specifically, can increase your spatial reasoning (or in plain English, help you overachieve mentally). The theory first garnered attention in 1993 (Rauscher, Shaw, and Ky) when it was reported that 36 college students tested well on the Stanford-Binet Scale of Intelligence. The students did the testing while listening to Mozart plano sonata, and the results were said to be the equivalent of adding on 8 or 9 IQ points. Of course after these staggering results, the “Mozart Effect” then took on heavier testing from a variety of institutions. However, these tests failed to generate anything positive in regards to the likelihood of the theory being concrete. After many failed independent and commercial studies, the belief in the “Mozart Effect” lost its traction.

Although I wasn’t familiar with the formal name of the theory, it was certainly something I had heard before taking this class. In my limited experience in applying the theory, whether it was listening to classic music during school work or even during something analytical like a game of chess, it always felt like my mental capacity was slightly elevated. Perhaps there is more to come from this effect!

Atco Ghost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBm0k9eLH5E

I live close to this location and on Friday and Saturday nights this is what us kids used to do for fun!
This legend consists of a little boy who had been playing basketball and the ball rolled out into the road and got hit. You can go at night in front of his home and do the whole blink your lights and rolls down and be silent and you will see the eura of the little boy. Apparently the little boys parents still live in the home and can you imagine having people night in and night out stopping in front of your home and playing games regarding your dececed child?
PS: click heading for full story, YouTube video entertaining!

Beware of Phantom Vibration Syndrome

Ever walking around and you swear that your phone just vibrated in your pocket or against your thigh or hip and your phone is not even with you or in your pocket? Well beware of the Phantom Vibration Syndrome also known as Ringxiety. This is a phonomenon in which with all the technology use and things that are occuring today people are always in worry if their phones are ringing or if they have them and if someone is tring to contact them.
They are now saying that this can stress someone out even to the extend on death. I have experienced this but just laughed about it later, but didn't have anxiety about it to kill me. In this artical they compared the phone searching to ajusting a hat. This I think means that every once in a while you have to check your phone or adjust your hat. What do you think?

5 Second Rule

When you drop food on the floor, usually just in your home or another private place, the first thing a lot of people do is yell 5 second rule and eat it. But how safe is this? Turns out, its actually pretty safe. During one test, after swabbing the floors of the hall, labs, and cafeteria at University of Illinois, they found that the floors really didn't have many microorganisms. They think this is because the a lot of bacteria need wet places to live, and most floors are relatively dry.

However, there are still professionals that don't think it's safe to eat off of floors. They argue that just because the floors in some tests come out safe, it doesn't mean all floors are. If there was bacteria on the floor at the time, the food could easily pick up that bacteria within the first 5 seconds of touching the floor. This bacteria can cause many things like illnesses, diarrhea, and the flu.

Another side of this I found was that time might not matter. If someone drops a piece of food, the floor will it have more bacteria the longer the food sits. According to Mythbusters, it doesn't matter. http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-five-second-rule-minimyth.html They did several tests to find out if the 5 second rule was true or not. They found that their surfaces did have an uneven amount of bacteria on them, so some would have been safer then others. They also found that the amount of bacteria to get onto a surface is the same at 2 and 5 seconds.

The results of the research I found tells me this; It is up to you on whether or not you eat the food off the floor in 5 seconds. Most floors are clean enough that there is no bacteria that can harm you if a piece of food drops onto it and you eat it. However, if bacteria is present, and the food is wet or sticky (this gives it a better chance of picking up bacteria) then it takes less then 5 seconds to pick it up. So how will you feel about picking up the next piece of food you drop?

Sources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/04/health/webmd/main1774287.shtml
http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-five-second-rule-minimyth.html

Electronic Voice Phenomenon

Electronic Voice Phenomenon, widely known as EVP's, are a huge topic in the world of paranormal (pseudo)science, especially with those topics having to deal with ghosts. EVP's are the recording of a "spirit voice," which can't be heard by the human ear but show up on electronic devices. This is often associated with the voices of the dead trying to communicate with the living. They are very popular, like in the hit TV show Ghost Adventures as they excite people by giving them a glimpse in to the unknown. It is said that EVP's can record voices that the human ear doesn't pick up on because ghosts communicate through electromagnetic energy and not sound waves.

EVP's have had a long history, beginning with Thomas Edison's attempt at creating a phonograph which could communicate with spirits of the dead in the 1890's. Over the past 120 years, many have attempted to catch their own EVP recordings and today nearly everybody has access to equipment that could aid in this, using devices as simple as a tape recorder. Just because EVP's have had a long history does not lend them credibility, however.

EVP samples are not reliable evidence of paranormal activity and not scientific, either. To begin with, the claims and samples are not really testable, falsifiable or repeatable. Also, samples are almost never collected under controlled conditions. Lastly, many EVP samples can be attributed to other things, like background noise, random white noise/interference on a radio, or apophenia, which is when people "spontaneously perceive connections and find meaningfulness in unrelated things," such as in the Rorschach Inkblot test.

Sources:
http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/electronic_voice_phenomena_voices_of_the_dead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3JjOnClaV0

Time For Tea

There were many stories about the journey that each of my father’s parents endured in their young lives as immigrants from Ireland. Anxious for a new life and to find work, my grandfather settled in Philadelphia in the early 1900’s, where cousins had already resided. One story that stands out more than others is about when my grandfather had his tea leaves read. Since it relates to this subject I decided to explore the topic, because we all learned that he saw his future in the leaves!

He met my grandmother who also had moved recently from Ireland to begin a new life. At some point one of his cousins had come to read my grandfather’s tea leaves. This cousin was experienced in the “art” of reading and knew what he saw to be the truth! For my grandfather he saw a house, made of stone and flowers in front. My uncle has told me that “indeed, it was the house that we all grew up in!” That is the only knowledge I ever had on the subject and it was spoken as if it were an absolute truth.

Tasseography is a divination that has roots around the globe. The word means the study of the cup or the graph. Tea ceremonies are still practiced in Japan and Australia. The first records of tea date back to around 300 BC. There are many Scottish, English and Irish authors found on this subject matter but it is not certain as to when the actual practice of fortune telling involving the tea leaves began. The practice is this; the reader or diviner will look into the cup of tea leaves after a person has drank from the cup and the energy of the drinker has transfused into the cup creating symbols in the form of shapes and letters and numbers thereby alerting the reader to certain fortune or misfortune that will come. The reader can only foretell what may currently happen in the tea drinker’s life. The position of the handle is significant to determine which direction the symbol is going, and therefore tells the reader if something is coming into the life of the person or leaving the life of the person. Different symbols can be a sign of issues of happiness, sadness, legality, health related, family related, death related and letters many times denote a name. The interpretation is solely that of the reader. The more experience the reader is, the better they can understand the symbols.

This insight into the art of tea leaf reading that some distant cousin in my family possessed has confirmed that this story is certainly a good one to tell for entertainment purposes, and any chance of a relationship between the leaves and the house that my grandparents bought are purely coincidental. Aside from the fact that probably 95% of people in Philadelphia lived in a stone or brick row home is that there is no way to determine future events and as tea leaves can be read daily so then with each passing day or each cup of tea, the future changes. The placebo effect certainly may play a part in the day that follows after the leaves are read. What we have done in the past can help to shape our future. Psychologically speaking we create our own destiny! The belief that something will happen may happen because we make it happen. Crystal ball, tarot cards, tea leaves are a few of many ways that some gain financially and others gain foolishly. Would you care for a cup of tea?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasseography 
http://www.newageinfo.com/history-reading-tea-leaves.htm

http://www.readingtealeaves.info/general_theories.html

Kirlian Photography

While thinking of a topic for this post, I came across something called Kirlian Photography. It sounded interesting, so I perused the online realm a bit for some information regarding what it was and why it would be considered pseudoscientific clap trap. For those who may have never heard of it let me explain the general premise. An electric current of high wattage and voltage but with a low amperage is introduced to a grounded object. The object is pressed up against a clear electric conductor of some sort (glass or a variety of plastics can be used). A photograph is then taken of the object. The resulting discharge against the glass is then captured. (Of note is that due to the amperage being low, it will not harm living things for the large part. As any electrician will tell you, it is the amps that kill you.)

This process is usually done with small items and hands, however it has been postulated by certain people that this process could have larger applications. These applications range from a way of detecting stress in the human body or even cancer, and go so far as to suggest it is a literal photo of the human aura. (Of another interesting note, aural photography at the carnival doesn't involve this process that is literally malarky.) Most of the sources will point to experiments where between exposures of this photographic process there will be changes. One example on a website claimed to be a "healer" normally and then the same "healer" before attempting a "healing" (of course, it didn't specify what kind of "healer"). Another experiment was a leaf before and after being torn in half and after being torn in half it still shows the whole leaf.

There are obviously some problems with this, almost all of the observed phenomena can be easily explained by physics. Any one who has ever played with a plasma globe, seen lighting, watched an electric jacob's ladder, or have seen a demonstration with a tesla coil can tell you how sporadic an electric discharge can be. To further nail the proverbial coffin shut, any item can have its picture taken this way.

In the included picture there are some samples of Kirlian Photography. Images 1 and 2 are both of leaves one in color and one in black and white. Image 3 is a human thumb. Images 4 and 5 are of a penny and a key respectively. As you can see, a completely inorganic items give of similar images using this photographic method. It even has the same level of detail between inorganic and organic items. In image 3 you can make out the ridges of the thumb and picture shows the rather nice portrait of Honest Abe. Therefor any claim that the representative images if of a human aura, some sort of biofield, or any other type of energy field besides the introduced electricity to be ridiculous. Image 6 is of a plasma globe a novelty item which works on a principle similar to that of Kirlian Photography. There are clearly some similarities between the dispersal between this image and the image of the penny.

While the fictitious ideas surrounding seem rather interesting and almost scientific, even after just a short glance are proven to be ridiculous.

Kirlian Cameras

Skeptic's Dictionary Article

Quack Watch.org Article

This is an article about how to build one but is a good explanation of how it works.

Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary
When I was a child there was this urban legend that always scared me to death whenever I looked into the mirror. Bloody Mary! The legend says that if you stand in front of a mirror in the dark at midnight and say Bloody Mary 3 times, a woman named Mary covered in blood will appear in the mirror. Mary is said to be a child murderer who eventually committed suicide.
This was the scariest thing I feared when I was a young kid. All of us would be so scared to even look into a mirror at night because we were always thinking about the legend hoping Mary wouldn’t just show her face and haunt us. Today, this legend seems somewhat silly, but to this day I will not look into that mirror alone and chant Bloody Mary 3 times. In 2006 a movie was made after this legend, and if you’ve ever seen the Candyman films, this is similar to the way Bloody Mary would be summoned.
Now, of course, this legend has many different variations to the ways she may be summoned to appear in the mirror. From chanting her name 3 times at midnight, spinning around in circles while chanting, rubbing one eye, running the water or even to chant it 13 times while holding a candle may all have a way to making Bloody Mary appear. Some believers have sworn to have seen her and many others have proof on camera that have not been disproved as of yet.

Jersey Devil

After living in New Jersey for my entire life, I felt that researching a little bit about the Jersey Devil would be appropriate. As with the Loch-Ness Monster and Bigfoot, the Jersey Devil is a cryptid. This means that there are beliefs in its existence, but not scientific proof to justify the claims. Also with these other cryptids are multiple accusations of the run-ins with the Jersey Devil as well as multiple different descriptions of this interesting creature.
The Jersey Devil is believed to have been born in Leeds Point, New Jersey between the years of 1735 and 1857. However, many other stories of the Jersey Devil’s existence state that it was born in other parts of the state. All of the stories seem to have unrealistic stories of the birth that would make anyone question if this is real. How is it possible for a human to reproduce a horse-like creature with wings? Or, how can a devil and a witch (both which are paranormal creatures) create something like this? With there being only one “Jersey Devil” in existence, it is difficult to believe that all of the different accusations and descriptions of this creature are for the same being.
Since there is no definite answer as to whether or not the Jersey Devil indeed exists, there is also debate over whether or not it is “alive” or “dead.” If this devil is dead, how come people have been unable to confirm its existence? If it is alive, how has it managed to survive for over 200 years? Many people are skeptical about the Jersey Devil and feel that it is just a hoax along with Bigfoot and the Loch-Ness monster. So, do you believe in the Jersey Devil?

http://www.elktownship.com/myth.html
http://www.examiner.com/creationism-in-pittsburgh/what-is-a-cryptid

Palm Reading

Palmistry, also known as chiromancy, is the practice of telling fortunes from the lines, marks, and patterns on the hands, particularly the palms. According to those who tell our fortunes, each line on the hands represents a different aspect of one's personality and future (predictions). Palm reading is an ancient mystic art, with its roots deep in India's past. Today, palm reading is one of the most common methods of divining, along with astrology.

The earliest known text on palm reading was written by a Hindi sage in the third millennium BC entitled "The Teachings of Valmiki Maharshi on Male Palmistry," and set out many techniques which are used into the modern day (wise). Since then, Palmistry has been used in Egypt, China, India, and even during the Middle Ages to detect witches since it was believed that certain spots on the hand made a pact with the Devil.

Many people clam that palmistry works because your hand changes as you do and no two hands are alike because you, and your cells are unique. Although this is true, there has been no scientific evidence to ever prove that the "predictions" fortune tellers make by simply viewing some one's hand have come true (palm).

Don't Breathe While Passing a Cemetary

As a child I always remember my older siblings and cousins telling me to hole my breath when we drove passed a cemetery. Of course this was the only way to keep the spirits of the deceased from entering our bodies. I believed in this myth for years and never really thought to research it until now. I wish I could have found out more information on this myth, but there wasn't much out there.

It can not really be date back to a specific time but since writing was developed by the early people of the earth, similar ideas have been recorded. Some believe that the idea may have come through the story of Adam and Eve. It is believed that God breathed life into Adam. So, you can see how long back the idea of breath and spirits have been intertwined. Another interesting fact that may have something to do with the myth is that in Indo-European languages, the word for "soul" always derives from the word for breath.

I know many of us believed in this myth as a child and practiced holding our breath while passing cemetaries. However, we also know that it is not a true one. I can say from personal experiencet that there have been many times that I have no held my breath in passing and no spirit of the deceased has entered my body (that I know of :p). However, we can definitely say this is a very popular myth because it even has a facebook page dedicated to it.

Breanne Bryson

Out of Body Experiences

Out of Body Experiences (OBE) is a situation in which a person experiences a separation from the mind and body. According to Timothy Lawson an OBE can be brought on in a multitude of ways such as drug-induced, religious, near-death, meditational, or hypnotically induced experiences. People who have experienced an out of body experience have described the situation as floating and being able to see their sleeping self. These experiences differ from that of normal dreaming in the sense that a person in an OBE realizes they are in the current physical world.

The internet is full of webpages dedicated to user-submitted stories of their own OBE. Contributors describe the ability to float, both through walls and ceilings, as well as visualize others who would guide them through the experience. There are many guides available online for those who wish to induce their own OBE. Methods include different types of visualization, and repeating sentences such as "i will have a lucid dream" or "i will remember only what is beneficial to me when i awake", and denying your body to slip into sleep (therefore tricking the body to believe the mind is asleep). As depicted in the photo scientists have determined that stimulation of certain areas of the brain can bring on the sensation, and visual, of either floating above your body looking down, or floating beside your body.

However, there are always skeptics who believe that the body is merely confused and the experience is brought on by conflicting senses. Others believe that an out of body experience is merely just lucid dreaming - a dream in which the person is aware they are dreaming (a technique that can also be taught). For the purpose of this blog post, and the satiate my intrigue, I decided to attempt the methods listed on two separate occasions. Unfortunately on the first night I was not able to bypass my body's inclination to fully fall asleep. On night two I used a different method and felt an overwhelming sense of relaxation. The feeling did not go further, as sometimes it takes multiple attempts to fully get the method down, but I was enough to pique my interest to attempt it once again.

Subliminal Messages: abcdreadthisefghi

So every now and then, we find ourselves presented with a subliminal message. Whether it's on TV, your local news paper, or the internet, there's always one exposed to someone. Subliminal messages are generally overlooked, but they are faint and usually not noticeable at first to the average person.

Public attention to subliminal messaging was brought by James Vicary in the late 1950s. He had the phrases "EAT POPCORN" and "DRINK COKE" flash during the movie Picnic. As a result, he found some success by seeing the increase in popcorn and coke sales. Although Vicary says that his study wasn't really a study, it doesn't mean it didn't work. It happened to work well on the audience for that showing of Picnic, right? A study in Canada took place in which the phrase "Phone Now" flashed on the screen throughout a show. It concluded with the phone company customers didn't increase phone usage, but they felt that they wanted to do something. It seems that they don't really influence people well.

When you search for "subliminal messages" on a search engine such as Google, many of the results you'd find are sexual references on things like food, alcohol, or cartoons. There are also websites that stimulate your mind with brainteasers and other mind tricks. There's just way too many examples out there to even list.

Overall, I'm pretty sure the average person wouldn't notice a subliminal message unless it's repeatedly exposed to them or if they're actually looking for one. I know I don't notice much since these messages aren't really intended to be found and meant for lower thresholds of perception. It makes me wonder what subliminal messages affected me in my past.


Lawson, Timothy J. Scientific Perspectives on Pseudoscience and the Paranormal: Readings for General Psychology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2006. Print.