Apparitions – Parapsychological Definition:
Apparitions are usually visual but sometimes in other sense-modalities in which there appears to be present a person or animal (deceased or living) and even inanimate objects such as carriages and other things, who/which is in fact out of the sensory range of the experient; often associated with spontaneous extrasensory perception, for example, in connection with an agent who is dying or undergoing some other crisis (in which case, it is likely to be termed a “crisis apparition,” or in connection with haunting (in which case, it is likely to be referred to in non-technical contexts as a “ghost”).
Related Terms:
Doppelganger
An apparitional double or counterpart of a living person.
Ghosts
As popularly used, this term denotes only the apparition of a deceased person, and is not sufficiently precise for use in psychical research.
Haunting
The more or less regular occurrence of paranormal phenomena associated with a particular locality (especially a building) and usually attributed to the activities of a discarnate entity; the phenomena may include apparitions, poltergeist disturbances, cold drafts, sounds of steps and voices, and various odors.
Sources:
Ashby, R.H. (1972). Glossary of terms in The Guidebook for the Study of Psychical Research and Parapsychology (Rider)
Thalbourne, M. (2003). Glossary of Terms Used in Parapsychology (Puente Publications). Refer Parapsychological Association
