Sesssion 1, March 1st, 2023.

Fatima Machado

InterPsi–Laboratory of Psychosocial Studies

Institute of Psychology

University of São Paulo, Brazil

“Poltergeists in Brazil: Case Studies, Theoretical Approaches and

Their Implications”

Abstract: Poltergeists are intriguing because they challenge our understanding of anomalous physical events and raise questions about our relationships with the environment (which includes relationships with other human beings). Poltergeist features can be mixed or confused with haunting cases depending on the perspective of the explanations given to the observed or narrated phenomena. This presentation will review concepts of poltergeists and hauntings, with special attention to poltergeist cases. Explanatory approaches that prevail in Brazil will be focused on, with comments on some Brazilian cases and their social

repercussions according to the function and meaning of anomalous occurrences as they are perceived in different approaches. Therefore, especially psychosocial and semiotic aspects will be focused upon.

Fatima Regina Machado is a clinical psychologist with a Ph.D. in Social Psychology (2009) and Communication and Semiotics (2003). The focus of her research has been the clinical management of anomalous and/or religious experiences, and psi experiences, mainly poltergeist and haunting-type cases. She is one of the coordinators of InterPsi–Laboratory of Psychosocial Studies “Belief, Subjectivity, Culture

and Health” at the Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo.

The free online course, “Parapsychology, Research and Education,” is also known as ParaMOOC. Registration is open from February 28th through April 1st, 2023. Send an email with “Register” in the subject line to parapsychologyonline@gmail.com

To read more about the course, see the Parapsychology Foundation blog: http://parapsychology.org/paramooc-2023-is-back/

To see the registration procedure on the ParapsychologyOnline website: https://parapsychologyonline.org/current-paramooc/2023-registration/

To see the schedule of the course, see: https://parapsychologyonline.org/2023-schedule/paramooc2023-schedule/

To see the course recommended sites and social media links: https://parapsychologyonline.org/current-paramooc/2023-registration/

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Published on March 2, 2023