The Future of the Field of Mediumship

Abstract

This collection has critically examined numerous facets of the phenomenon of mediumship: explanatory models and paranormal belief; culture, psychopathology and psychotherapeutic potential; and quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches. For the final essay of this anthology, as editor, I was interested in soliciting a rich, diversity of views regarding the future of the field of mediumship. This approach seemed superior to restricting the content of the essay to the intellectual hobby-horses of a single individual (i.e., the editor). Consequently, I invited all of the contributors to the present volume to submit a short piece outlining their thoughts regarding future directions in the study of mediumship. I wish to note that during the preparation of this essay I made a conscious effort not to integrate the views of my co-authors. Thus, I made no attempt to organize the content thematically or construct a paradigm. What follows is simply the unedited views of 18 courageous experts who have eschewed orthodox academic sensibilities by writing and researching in one of the most controversial areas of contemporary scientific enquiry: mediumship.