Joe Nickell

In the following selection, Joe Nickell argues that so—called hauntings are not genuine. Those who claim to have seen spirits of the undead have actually experienced hallucinations, illusions, or mental images. In addition, people can be led to think they have seen ghosts by the power of suggestion or the mood created by old—fashioned furnishings. Nickell explains that proprietors of hotels and restaurants sometimes claim that their establishments are haunted-or even create elaborate haunting hoaxes-in order to promote their business. The author concludes that psychics and others who claim to perceive ghosts are most likely just people with fantasy—prone personalities.

Nickell is the senior research fellow at the Committee for the Scientific Explanation of Claims of the Paranormal and the author of many books, including Camera Clues: A Handbook of...