Poltergeist Hauntings a Complete Study.

Poltergeist hauntings, who doesn’t know that term from seasoned to rookie we are all familiar with it. Hollywood had a semi-successful series of movies based on the noisy ghost. That is exactly what the German word translates to “noisy ghost” and does it ever live up to its name.

This classification is extremely rare and is almost non-existent. However really popular it is this is the second most rare paranormal activity in existence. Is it really exactly how Hollywood spins it or is there more to the poltergeist than meets the eye?

Characteristics of Poltergeist Hauntings

Let’s look at some of theories behind the famous Poltergeist and then characterize its activity. This particular spirit can be “life disrupting” as it will cause such a disturbance that normal everyday life will become impossible. This haunting is often associated with a specific individual rather than a location.

This individual is in most cases a child as popular theory states children are more connected to the spiritual world than adults. Possibly this is because they more innocently believe with open minds and blind faith. Adults are usually more centered on “seeing is believing”.

One theoretical cause of this type of ghost is that it is initiated by pant up stress on a subconscious level. This is often explained as uncontrolled psychokinetic activity or recurrent spontaneous psycho kinesis (RSPK). RSPK can theoretically be channeled and focused by high deposits of limestone and quartz.

A theory in favor of skeptics everywhere, it suggests that pent up stress on your mind can cause delirium resulting in hallucinations that are perceived as a less than welcome ghost. Though this is probably the most accurate theory and a valid form of psychoanalysis of this activity, it can cause friction in the investigator/ client relations. Tip of the day: jumping prematurely to this conclusion could bring question to ones professionalism.

A second theory I will share is “a spirit of a human or doppelganger that is exhibiting malicious and violent tendencies”. Often believed to be a human who once inhabited a location that is unhappy with the current residents. Also it is often speculated that this former resident died in the location in a horrible and/ or violent way. Though this may be plausible this theory in itself is flawed, due to the fact that a spirit that had a violent death more often than not will cry out for help rather than lash out in a violent way.

That being said it is possible to also classify poltergeists in the non-human category. Seeing as it is not always violent or malicious it is safe to say that the German word only classifies the type of haunting and not the spirit itself as with residual and intelligent hauntings. Now let’s look at the characteristics of poltergeist hauntings:

Movement and hurling around of often extremely heavy objects

The opening and closing of doors and windows by no visible means

Unexplained noises such as voices, moans, screams, explosions, crashes, raps, thumps, scratches and knocks on floors, doors and walls, heavy footsteps, bed-shaking

The breaking of household objects (ie. crockery)

The destruction of garments, the throwing of stones, rocks and dirt, bad smells, mysterious fires

The appearance of pools of water on floors, the malfunctioning of electrical equipment, telephone ringing, the unexplained appearance of objects (Apports), apparitions and even physical assault

Explanations for the Confused

When we talk movement and hurling of heavy objects we aren’t talking slight as with the intelligent haunting. We are talking about tables are being thrown, surface objects (ie. lamps, picture frames, etcetera) removed from their places and strewn about. This characteristic supports theory one as most spirits lack the energy focus and source of energy for these movements.

Opening and closing of doors and windows are also associated with intelligent hauntings and that is what a poltergeist is “a severe intelligent haunting”. The characteristic here describes extreme movements and often repeated actions this time like a record skipping. This activity causes severe disruption of normal life as does the previous.

The unexplained noises as you could probably guess go far beyond normal house settling noises. These are the bumps and bangs thought of associated with all hauntings. These however are not and as the disturbance grows so does the sounds and voices.

Also from this classification comes the phenomenon of bed-shaking usually coupled with the sleep condition called “sleep paralysis”. Usually not a paranormal occurrence, sleep paralysis is a bystander as the logic center of your mind is roused. This is another characteristic that supports theory one.

Unexplained breaking of household crockery or other objects, though often associated with poltergeists it is not totally synonymous with it. This is where the maliciousness and violence mix into poltergeist hauntings. A slight symbol of both theories as this characteristic borders non-human activity.

More maliciousness tacks on the alleged poltergeist begins to tear at your clothes, toss about stones, rocks and dirt. This usually happens deeper into the duration of this classification’s inhabitance. Theoretically the longer a poltergeist remains the worse the activity gets.

As we move along in this study we see further disruption in everyday life as bad smells and spontaneous fires occur. More malicious activity supporting the second theory and heading toward non-human activity. This concludes with apparitions and possible physical assault driving the nail deep into the coffin lid seemingly solidifying the second theory.

However I skipped some activity characteristics, formation of pools of water on floors and electrical disturbances. More trickery to support theory one, while this isn’t in an order of progression but merely a map showing you why experts are as confused as you undoubtedly are now. So is it theory one or theory two?

RSPK or Non-Human/ Human Maliciousness

So which is it you ask, is it RSPK or is it non-human/ human maliciousness that causes poltergeist hauntings? In my earlier statements I said theory one was more true than theory two, stating RSPK is a better “cause” for poltergeist activity than a malicious human spirit. However notice I left out another piece of the puzzle, the non-human piece.

So now I pose an answer that is becoming increasingly more popular and more solid than the previous theories. The answer is it is both, the new theory states that “a poltergeist haunting initially begins and ends with RSPK, however if this activity does not abate a spiritual doppelganger (a spirit posing as another) takes over and escalates the activity”. A doppelganger can be a human spirit in extremely rare cases but doppelgangers are commonly non-human as a constant.

It is in this new theory that the cloud begins to lift and we gather some clarification. However it is still believed that violent deaths can cause poltergeist hauntings though that belief is slowly fading and being debunked. RSPK or non-human/ human maliciousness or both we might not have an answer but we are closer to understanding more.

Did Hollywood Finally Get One Right?

Almost, Hollywood started out depicting actual poltergeist activity in the movie of the same name. Almost but no dice because as the movie progresses Hollywood spins it into yet another entertaining fictional story complete with plot twists and televisions kidnapping kids to little women who seem to know everything about the spiritual world. Entertaining, successful and good yes but pure hype none the less.

Sorry but Hollywood adaptations of the paranormal universe just never get it completely right. It is not their fault really; they are in the field of entertainment and making money off of such. Would a movie depicting actual characteristics be half as entertaining, no but it would be accurate.

Conclusions on Poltergeist Hauntings

Whether you believe it is RSPK or malicious spirits or both it is hard to deny that this extreme activity does exist however rare it is. We may never actually know for sure exactly what causes poltergeist hauntings in this life or the next. That being said does not mean we stop trying or learning, as new theories are born and old ones die we get closer to understanding these mysteries.

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