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Julia Irving, Emma Fonte & Sydnee Garner

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Post # 1 Pseudoscience Watchlist: Convinces by Faith and Belief

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Post # 1 Pseudoscience Watchlist: Convinces by Faith and Belief

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Convinces by Faith and Belief Definition:

There is no scientific evidence to support what is being said, yet the presence of spiritual beings and the fact that modern science is incapable of explaining mystical connections give people a reason to accept something as true and believe it is so.

Connection:

Praying is a practice that people supporting a religion will use. This can be to praise, thank, share concerns, and ask for things while communicating with a higher power. There is no demonstrated validity to support a higher power's presence or ability to communicate through prayer. Meaning those who practice are doing so based on the belief that they are being heard without hard proof. The fact that a spiritual being is present within the practice justifies how we cannot prove it and just believe. This is because the higher power is just too powerful and we cannot comprehend it with modern science. For these reasons, this is a sign of Pseudoscience.

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Are you praying for something for a long time? Do you feel God isn’t listening or prayer doesn’t work? Find out how to know prayer really works.

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Post # 2 Pseudoscience Watchlist: Results Can't Be Reproduced or Verified

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Post # 2 Pseudoscience Watchlist: Results Can't Be Reproduced or Verified

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Results Can't Be Reproduced or Verified Definition:

There is no way to measure or verify the item in question in a scientific way that gives exact and consistent results.

Connection:

The presence of ghosts connects with the watchlist item 'results can't be reproduces or Verified'. This is because we have no technology that can give a factual result based off of science that proves their presence is real. We do have technology to detect sound waves and thermal vision, and recording devices, yet these tools do not produce consistent results. Often the information that 'proves' their existence is debunked or cannot be proven that there has not been editing to skew the information and make it believable. There are also so many sources where people claim to have interactions with spirits buy they are all so different. This could be due to changing old wives tales, or just that the information provided cannot be consistent because the information is inaccurate. This is what confirms that this is a pseudoscience using watchlist items.

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Ten Things about Ghosts and Haunting - Anthropology News

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1) We begin with a premise and provocation: haunting is a universal condition. Where there is history, there is haunting. Being haunted is a condition of

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Post # 3 Pseudoscience Watchlist: Does Not Progress

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Post # 3 Pseudoscience Watchlist: Does Not Progress

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Does Not Progress Definition:

this means that the information in question has remained the same since it originated or has written records. There is no new information uncovered or new supporting evidence as science advances to understand the information in question.

Connection:

Astrology has been around since 3rd milenium BCE.₍https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/content/did-you-know-influence-astrology-science-astronomy₎

The information it is based on has not changed at all, unlike other things where the more we learn, the more we uncover reasoning and proof that alters the original idea. Not to mention one of the biggest reasons people experience skepticism when considering astrology as a science. This reason is that when the information was present that we used to predict people's life paths, horoscopes, and personalities is no longer accurate. This information is processed through the alignment of stars and constellations compared to Earth, yet the Earth has shifted within space and is now angled differently. This means that the information we are using to predict is not an accurate representation of what the earth is currently like today; yet no new science has come out to support it. Essentially this is a watchlist item of not progressing because there has been nothing to add supporting this idea other than the original thought. Making astrology, a pseudoscience.

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astrology, type of divination that involves the forecasting of earthly and human events through the observation and interpretation of the fixed stars, the Sun, the Moon, and the planets. Devotees believe that an understanding of the influence of the planets and stars on earthly affairs allows them to both predict and affect the destinies of individuals, groups, and nations. Though often regarded as a science throughout its history, astrology is widely considered today to be diametrically opposed to the findings and theories of modern Western science.

Nature and significance

Astrology is a method of predicting mundane events based upon the assumption that the celestial bodies-particularly the planets and the stars considered in their arbitrary combinations or configurations (called constellations)-in some way either determine or indicate changes in the sublunar world. The theoretical basis for this assumption lies historically in Hellenistic philosophy and radically distinguishes astrology from the celestial omina (" omens") that were first categorized and cataloged in ancient Mesopotamia. Originally, astrologers presupposed a geocentric universe in which the "planets" (including the Sun and Moon) revolve in orbits whose centres are at or near the centre of the Earth and in which the stars are fixed upon a sphere with a finite radius whose centre is also the centre of the Earth. Later the principles of Aristotelian physics were adopted, according to which there is an absolute division between the eternal, circular motions of the heavenly element and the limited, linear motions of the four sublunar elements: fire, air, water, earth.

Special relations were believed to exist between particular celestial bodies and their varied motions, configurations with each other, and the processes of generation and decay apparent in the world of fire, air, water, and earth. These relations were sometimes regarded as so complex that no human mind could completely grasp them; thus, the astrologer might be readily excused for any errors. A similar set of special relations was also assumed by those whose physics was more akin to that of the Greek philosopher Plato. For the Platonic astrologers, the element of fire was believed to extend throughout the celestial spheres, and they were more likely than the Aristotelians to believe in the possibility of divine intervention in the natural processes through celestial influences upon the Earth, since they believed in the deity's creation of the celestial bodies themselves.

The role of the divine in astrological theory varies considerably. In its most rigorous aspect, astrology postulates a totally mechanistic universe, denying to the deity the possibility of intervention and to man that of free will; as such, it was vigorously attacked by orthodox Christianity and Islam. For some, however, astrology is not an exact science like astronomy but merely indicates trends and directions that can be altered either by divine or by human will. In the interpretation of Bardesanes, a Syrian Christian scholar (154- c. 222)-who has often been identified as a Gnostic (a believer in esoteric salvatory knowledge and the view that matter is evil and spirit good)-the motions of the stars govern only the elemental world, leaving the soul free to choose between the good and the evil. Man's ultimate goal is to attain emancipation from an astrologically dominated material world. Some astrologers, such as the Harranians (from the ancient Mesopotamian city of Harran) and the Hindus, regard the planets themselves as potent deities whose decrees can be changed through supplication and liturgy or through theurgy, the science of persuading the gods or other supernatural powers. In still other interpretations-e.g., that of the Christian Priscillianists (followers of Priscillian, a Spanish ascetic of the 4th century who apparently held dualistic views)-the stars merely make manifest the will of God to those trained in astrological symbolism.

Significance of astral omens

The view that the stars make manifest the divine will is closest to the concept that lies behind the ancient Mesopotamian collections of celestial omens. Their primary purpose was to inform the royal court of impending disaster or success. These might take the forms of meteorological or epidemic phenomena affecting entire human, animal, or plant populations. Frequently, however, they involved the military affairs of the state or the personal lives of the ruler and his family. Since the celestial omina were regarded not as deterministic but rather as indicative-as a kind of symbolic language in which the gods communicated with men about the future and as only a part of a vast array of ominous events-it was believed that their unpleasant forebodings might be mitigated or nullified by ritual means or by contrary omens. The bāru (the official prognosticator), who observed and interpreted the celestial omina, was thus in a position to advise his royal employer on the means of avoiding misfortunes; the omens provided a basis for intelligent action rather than an indication of an inexorable fate.

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Astrology | Definition, History, Symbols, Signs, & Facts

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Astrology, type of divination that involves the forecasting of earthly and human events through the observation and interpretation of the fixed stars, the Sun, the Moon, and the planets. Astrology is widely considered today to be diametrically opposed to the findings and theories of modern Western science.

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Post # 4 Pseudoscience Watchlist: Money is Involved

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Post # 4 Pseudoscience Watchlist: Money is Involved

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Money is Involved Definition:

Money being involved is reasoning for why the practice is being done. When money is involved it is the specialist who is gaining fame and fortune and this attracts vulnerable people to try and find answers to their questions which can cost them everything.

Connection:

the connection between the watchlist item and therapeutic touch is that money is the motivator. therapeutic tough is marketed toward those who cannot find answers to their body's problems or solutions to fix an ongoing problem. As there is no science to prove that healing through physical contact and energy being transferred works. This is why it is not used or recommended by medical professionals in a healthcare setting. this means that those who use this practice as a way of healing have not gotten the results they want from doctors in healthcare and are likely using therapeutic touch as a last resort. This makes people put all of their belief into it and emotionally invested. there is also a cost to this which a lot of people may overlook as they are too desperate to use critical thinking. The person conducting the session is gaining money from this. As there is no concrete evidence, or scientific method of conducting the practice, and the person running the session has personal things to gain from the session, this is a perfect example of falling into the pseudoscience watchlist item of money being involved.

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Healing Touch Association of Canada - Healing Touch FAQs

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Find out: what Healing Touch (HT) is; what happens during a HT session; research around HT; how HT fits with integrative health care; and where HT is already used in health care settings.

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Ancient Wisdom Definition:

The red flag Ancient Wisdom is the belief that an idea or product that has been accumulated by a human society during prehistoric times will be correct because of how long it has been around.

Connection:

Traditional Chinese medicine is an idea that has been around for thousands of years. There is no scientific evidence that supports the reliability behind this idea, therefore this Reputable Source has Debunked the claims on how traditional Chinese medicine actually works because of its ancient properties. A variety of herbal products used as medicine have been known to cause different medical problems such as respiratory diseases. This goes to show that just because something is considered to be "ancient" does not mean that it is reliable.

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Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need To Know

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General overview of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) including the underlying concepts, treatments, and issues to consider when using TCM.

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Ideologically support Definition:

Ideologically support is a red flag that is defined as an individual who gains information from a force of beliefs rather than the science behind it.

Connection:

Astrology is a belief that an individuals horoscope can affect their personality, mood or even the environment around them, even though there is no scientific evidence to prove that this is true. When using the Critical Thinking Process, there are five steps. The first step is Define Claim. For this specific topic, the claim would be that astrology can affect our everyday lives. The second step is the Recognize Bias, which is that individuals will read their horoscopes daily because they believe that it truly has an affect on the decisions they make everyday. In the third step we Evaluate the Source. The individual who provided this source seems to be a qualified individual as they are a Professor of Physics and are providing facts. The next step is to Evaluate Evidence. There aren't any claims in this article stating that it is 100% true. They are simply explaining that even though there isn't scientific evidence behind astrology, there are people who still choose to believe in it. They have provided facts about how horoscopes can make people feel better, but it is because of the psychological affect that it can have. The final step to this process is the Summary Conclusion. The source provides information on why so many people believe in astrology without knowing the true science behind it. They demonstrate and provide facts about how it is actually a method known as "the placebo effect" which is when someone believes in a untrue method that makes them feel better.

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Science Questions with Surprising Answers

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Hardened scientists will tell you astrology doesn't work. Believers will tell you it does. Who is right? They are both right. It depends on what you mean by the word "work". Astrology is the belief that the alignment of stars and planets affects every individual's mood, personality, and environment, depending on when he was born. Astrologers print horoscopes in newspapers that are personalized by birth date. These horoscopes make predictions in people's personal lives, describe their personalities, and give them advice; all according to the position of astronomical bodies. A survey conducted by the National Science Foundation found that 41% of respondents believe that astrology is "very scientific" or "sort of scientific". Let us break the original question into two separate, more specific, questions: 1) Does the position of astronomical bodies affect a person's life? 2) Can horoscopes make people feel better? These questions are both very different. Both can be determined scientifically.

Does the position of astronomical bodies affect a person's life (beyond basic weather)?
No. The position and orientation of the sun relative to earth does cause seasons. Anyone who has shoveled snow off his walk in January when he would rather be at the beach can tell you that the astronomical bodies definitely affect our lives. Solar flares cause electromagnetic disturbances on earth that can disrupt satellites and even cause blackouts. The position of the moon causes ocean tides. If you are a fisher, the position of the moon can have a significant effect on your livelihood. The solar wind causes beautiful aurora, and sunlight itself is the main source of energy for our planet. But all of these effects fall under the umbrella of basic weather; not astrology. Astrology purports that astronomical bodies have influence on people's lives beyond basic weather patterns, depending on their birth date. This claim is scientifically false. Numerous scientific studies have disproven that astronomical bodies affect people's lives according to their birth date. For instance, Peter Hartmann and his collaborators studied over 4000 individuals and found no correlation between birth date and personality or intelligence. In one of the most famous experiments, Shawn Carlson had 28 astrologers make predictions and then tested the accuracy of their predictions. Before conducting the experiment, he fine-tuned the method so that various independent scientists agreed the method was scientifically sound, and also so that all of the astrologers agreed the test was fair. As published in Nature, he found that the astrologers could do no better at predicting the future than random chance. These results agree with fundamental science.

Fundamentally, there are four forces of nature: gravity, electromagnetism, the strong nuclear force, and the weak nuclear force. If an object affects a person, it must do so by interacting through one of these fundamental forces. For instance, strong acid burns your skin because the electromagnetic fields in the acid pull strongly enough on your skin molecules that they rip apart. A falling rock crushes you because gravity pulls it onto you. A nuclear bomb will vaporize you because of nuclear forces. Each of the fundamental forces can be very strong. The problem is that they all die off with distance. The nuclear forces die off so quickly that they are essentially zero beyond a few nanometers. Electromagnetic forces typically extend from nanometers to kilometers. Sensitive equipment can detect electromagnetic waves (light) from the edge of the observable universe, but that light is exceptionally weak. The gravity of a star technically extends throughout the universe, but its individual effect on the universe does not extend much beyond its solar system. Because of the effect of distance, the gravitational pull of Polaris on an earth-bound human is weaker than the gravitational pull of a gnat flitting about his head. Similarly, the electromagnetic waves (light) reaching the eye of an earth-bound human from Sirius is dimmer than the light from a firefly flitting by. If the stars and planets really had an effect on humans, then gnats and fireflies would have even more of an effect. Even if the gravity of the planets was strong enough to affect you, an alignment of the planets would not lead you to win the lottery for the simple reason that a literal alignment of the planets never happens in the real world.

Can horoscopes make people feel better?
Yes. But it has nothing to do with the horoscopes being right. Horoscopes make people feel better because of a psychological effect known as the placebo effect. The placebo effect is when the belief in a useless method actually makes a person feel better. It is the belief itself, and not the method, that causes the improvement. The placebo effect has been scientifically verified. If you give pills to ten sick patients containing only water, but tell them it is a powerful new drug that will help them, and then have ten sick patients not take the pills, then over time the patients taking pills will show better health. Because of the placebo effect, a new drug must not just be proven to make patients feel better. It must be proven to perform better than a placebo. In accurate medical experiments, the control group is not a collection of untreated patients. Rather, the control group is a collection of patients receiving a placebo. The placebo effect is the mechanism at work with astrology. Many people believe in astrology. When they read their horoscope and follow its advice, they feel better. But it is the belief itself and not the astrology that is making them feel better. Many pseudo-scientific treatments - from crystal healing to homeopathy - help people through the placebo effect. Believing in a treatment that does not actually do anything may help, but believing in a treatment that does is even better. Sticking to scientifically proven treatments gives you the benefit of the belief and the benefit of the treatment's action. For instance, instead of reading your horoscope each morning, go for a walk. Exercise is proven to be good for body and mind, and your belief in its effect will also help you.

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Hardened scientists will tell you astrology doesnt work. Believers will tell you it does. Who is right? They are both right. It depends on what you...

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Confirmation Bias Definition:

Confirmation Bias is when people look for supporting evidence that coincide with their beliefs, while discrediting factual information that will discredit what they believe in.

Connection:

Individuals who choose to receive a tarot reading will most of the time become a target of Confirmation Bias. People go to tarot readers to receive indications about their future whether it is positive or negative. This is done by the tarot reader shuffling a few cards and asking the client to pick some from the deck. They go to these readers because they believe that these cards will provide a true reading on their life, rather than following factual truths that Debunk their beliefs. We are often searching for meanings within our lives, which can have an affect on why people choose to believe that the tarot card readings that they are receiving are true. It is better to have an idea of what is to come in the future rather than living in the unknown.

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All Natural Definition:

The belief that is a product is identified as all natural, then is must be a safer or healthier option.

Connection:

If we are using a medicine that is labelled as all natural, normally our first thought is that it is a healthier option. These "natural" products are mainly derived from plants and even though there are natural medicines out there that have shown to be helpful, there are products that have been created from nature that have not been effective. People often hear the word 'chemical' or 'synthetic' and instantly believe that it isn't good for you. Even if a natural medicine is claiming to be all natural, it does not mean that there aren't chemicals provided in the formula. We actually are exposed to chemicals in our everyday lives. Some examples include the air that we are breathing or the furniture that we have in our house. If something is claiming to be all natural, that doesn't always mean that it will be more effective and helpful.

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A lot of people believe that when it comes to medicine, "natural" is better, healthier, and safer than "unnatural" or synthetic drugs.

In fact, researchers have looked at some of the reasons why people have that belief. What they found is that a person's preference for natural things involves a range of ideas, including the belief that nature is pure and inherently superior to humans. Researchers have also found that these beliefs, or biases, affect the decisions people make about their health.

Nature has been good to us. Nature gave us aspirin and morphine, and other medicines derived from plants. The use of plants as medicines has a long history in the treatment of disease, and plants have played an important role in improving our health.

But not all products from nature have been shown to be effective.

Some dietary and herbal supplements have failed to show a benefit when scientists have studied them. For example, several major studies of the herb Echinacea did not find evidence of benefit against the common cold. Studies of ginkgo, including a large study that enrolled more than 3,000 older adults, found that ginkgo supplements don't help prevent or slow dementia or cognitive decline.

And "natural" medicines, contrary to what many may think, are not without side effects. Some can even have serious safety concerns.

For example, kava, a plant native to the islands of the South Pacific, and often used as a dietary supplement for anxiety, may be associated with severe liver damage. Ephedra, an evergreen shrub-like plant native to central Asia and Mongolia that has been used for centuries for colds, fever, and other conditions, is associated with heart problems and risk of death. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids for safety reasons.

Some people also believe that "natural" products are safe because they believe these medicines are free of chemicals.

For many, the word "chemical" has come to mean toxic or synthetic, something to be avoided. But everything is made of chemicals-the apple on your kitchen countertop, the ceramic mug in your cupboard, and even the air that you breathe. In fact, you are made up of chemicals, too.

Some chemicals are harmful. Toxic chemicals are substances that may be harmful to the environment or hazardous to your health if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. Chlorine and isopropyl alcohol are examples of some of the toxic chemicals commonly used in certain industries. But there are many toxic chemicals that occur in nature as well-mercury, snake venom, arsenic, and ricin from castor beans. Some chemicals, like iron and oxygen, are necessary for us to live, but at high doses are toxic and can even cause death. Natural medicines such as herbal and dietary supplements are made up of chemicals, too, just like everything else.

But it's important to understand that although many herbal or dietary supplements (and some prescription drugs) come from natural sources, "natural" does not always mean that it's a safer or better option for your health. An herbal supplement may contain dozens of chemical compounds, and all of its ingredients may not be known. Scientists are studying many of these products to identify what ingredients may be active and to better understand their effects in the body.

For more information about the safety and effectiveness of natural products such as herbal or dietary supplements, check out our Herbs at a Glance series on our Web site and our Know the Science initiative. When you know the science, you can make informed decisions about your health.

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Natural Doesn't Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better

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When you know the science, you can make informed decisions about your health.

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Post #9 Red Flag: Suppression by Authorities

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Post #9 Red Flag: Suppression by Authorities

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Suppression by Authorities Definition:

This is when certain actions are taken to prevent facts or information from getting to the public.

Connection:

The U.S Government has been accused of covering up potential UFO sightings. a Man named David Grusch who is a former intelligence official had come out and made claims about what the government has been hiding. This has a connection the the red flag Suppression by Authorities because the Government is trying to withhold knowledge that they may have about UFO's. After David had made those claims, the experts in "UFO lore" released a statement letting the public know that what David has been said should be taken lightly. This could be a way to redirect the public to avoid releasing such sensitive information. Although David has made these claims, he wasn't able to provide evidence to back them up. But it was said that the government has kept possible sightings a secret going back to the 70's. This can be very contradicting as it is hard to backup credible information about a subject, when all of the knowledge behind it is being withheld from the public.

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A whistleblower claims the US has alien vehicles. But where’s the proof?

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Experts in UFO lore suggest the assertions should be taken with a grain of salt and demand to see evidence of the non-human crafts

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Post #10 Reasons of belief: Perception and Observation

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Post #10 Reasons of belief: Perception and Observation

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Definition:

perception is having the ability to become aware of something through your   physical senses such as hearing, seeing, touch, smell and even taste. Observation also involves using your physical senses but is the action of gathering data or seeing actions without being involved in them.

Connection:

This video talks about perception, what it is and gives examples. Though the examples aren’t necessarily about paranormal experiences, it has lots of connections such as people perceiving things in different ways and that we perceive things differently than one another due to our beliefs, knowledge and experience.Perception and observation are linked to experiences of the paranormal and how individuals interpret unusual phenomena. For instance, fear or excitement can heighten sensory awareness, making individuals more likely to perceive ordinary occurrences as supernatural. Ultimately, these factors show that our understanding of paranormal activity is deeply rooted in the complexities of human perception and observation.

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Post #11 Reasons of Belief: Emotional Connection

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Post #11 Reasons of Belief: Emotional Connection

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Definition:

Emotional connection to paranormal and pseudoscience can make us vulnerable to untrue things along with making us want to believe. Emotions can also cause us to have anomalous experiences.

Connection:

This article explains research and how emotional intelligence connects with paranormal and pseudoscience. Many people find themselves drawn to the paranormal as a means of exploring a distorted view of truth, where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural blur. This fascination often thrives in environments of groupthink, where collective beliefs overshadow critical thinking, fostering an emotional connection that can feel both thrilling and comforting. However, a lack of practice between genuine experiences and illusions can lead to misunderstandings.  Causing people to cling to myths that resonate with their beliefs for connection and understanding beyond the tangible world.

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Definition:

When something is unexplained or unexplainable it means that the reason or cause is unknown or unclear. For example, thinking about someone and then running into them is just an unexplainable coincidence. No one knows why or how it happens.

Connection:

Unexplained paranormal beliefs often gain traction through a collection of anecdotes, personal stories that weave together experiences of the inexplicable. These narratives, passed down through generations or shared among friends, create curiosity, inviting others to explore the mysteries that lie beyond everyday reality. Each anecdote adds a layer of credibility and emotional weight, making the paranormal feel more accessible and relatable. As people recount their encounters with the unknown, they gain a sense of community and shared wonder, even when faced with skepticism from the real world.

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