Ghost hunting is the act of exploring places that are said to be haunted by ghosts. This practice is strongly criticized for not following the scientific method. No scientific research has proven that ghosts exist. Most educators, scientists, and skeptics consider ghost hunting to be pseudoscience. Science historian Brian Regal described ghost hunting as "an unorganized exercise in futility."
Ghost-hunting teams often try to gather "evidence" that supports claims of paranormal activity. These individuals are sometimes called paranormal investigators. They use tools such as EMF meters, digital thermometers, handheld and static digital cameras (including thermographic and night vision models), night vision goggles, and digital audio recorders. Traditional methods are also used, such as interviewing people and studying the history of locations believed to be haunted. Other traditional techniques include dowsing and using Ouija boards.
History
Paranormal research began in the 1900s, with groups like the Society for Psychical Research studying spirit-related topics. Psychic researcher Harry Price wrote a book called Confessions of a Ghost-Hunter in 1936.
Ghost hunting became more popular in the 2000s because of TV shows like Most Haunted and Ghost Hunters, along with better access to advanced tools. The Atlantic Paranormal Society said their membership doubled in the late 2000s, and they believed this was because of the TV shows. Although academic experts do not accept ghost hunting as real science, the popularity of these shows has encouraged many people to try it.
In the early 2000s, more small businesses started selling ghost-hunting equipment and offering paranormal investigation services. These businesses often sell tools like electromagnetic field (EMF) meters, infrared motion sensors, and devices called "ghost detectors." The growing interest in the paranormal has helped some businesses earn more money through advertising, books, DVDs, videos, and other products.
A group called "A Midwest Haunting" in Macomb, Illinois, reported that the number of people joining their tours tripled, increasing from about 600 in 2006 to 1,800 in 2008. Marie Cuff of "Idaho Spirit Seekers" noted more people visiting their websites and message boards, showing that ghost hunting is becoming more widely accepted. People who participate say they enjoy meeting others with similar interests and exploring the paranormal. Jim Willis of "Ghosts of Ohio" said his group’s membership doubled since it began in 1999, now including 30 members. His group has both people who strongly believe in ghosts and those who are skeptical. Willis said his group seeks answers, and he believes being skeptical is important to be taken seriously.
Author John Potts wrote that today’s "amateur ghost hunting" started during the spiritualist movement and with early groups like London’s The Ghost Club and the Society for Psychical Research. However, he said modern ghost hunting is not connected to scientific studies of the paranormal. Potts noted that modern groups often ignore scientific methods and instead use a mix of technology and mystical beliefs.
The popularity of ghost hunting has caused some injuries. For example, teenagers exploring a "spooky home" in Worthington, Ohio, were seriously injured when the homeowner shot at their car. Another person was killed after falling from a building at the University of Toronto while searching for ghosts.
Some businesses now offer ghost tours led by local guides or paranormal groups. These tours often share profits with the owners of supposedly haunted buildings. Because both the guides and building owners benefit financially, some people believe claims about hauntings may be exaggerated or made up to attract more visitors. Savannah, Georgia, is known for having the most ghost tours in the United States, with over 31 tours as of 2003.
Notable paranormal investigators
Harry Price (1881–1948) was a British investigator of psychic phenomena, researcher, and writer. He became well-known for studying unexplained events and exposing fake spiritualist mediums. His most famous investigation was at Borley Rectory in Essex, England, a house said to be haunted. A book published in 1950, Harry Price: Biography of a Ghost Hunter by Paul Tabori, detailed his work. Price was also a member of the Ghost Club in London.
In 1920, Price joined the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) and used his knowledge of magic tricks to prove that some mediums were faking spiritualist demonstrations. In 1922, he uncovered fraud by a man named William Hope, who claimed to photograph spirits. That same year, he traveled to Germany with Eric Dingwall to investigate a man named Willi Schneider at the home of Baron Albert von Schrenck-Notzing in Munich. In 1923, Price exposed another medium, Jan Guzyk.
Price studied photographs of ectoplasm (a substance claimed to be produced by spiritualists) made by a medium named Eva Carrière. He wrote that the images looked fake, made from cardboard and newspaper, and that no proper scientific tests were used. In 1920, researchers in London found that Carrière’s ectoplasm was made of chewed paper. In 1922, tests again showed no evidence of real spiritual activity. In 1925, Price discovered that a medium named Maria Silbert used her feet to move objects during séances. He also studied a medium named George Valiantine, who claimed to speak with the spirit of a composer named Luigi Arditi in Italian. Price wrote down the words and found they matched an Italian phrasebook exactly.
In 1926, Price created the National Laboratory of Psychical Research as an alternative to the SPR. He offered to give the University of London equipment and books for a Department of Psychical Research. In 1936, he donated his equipment and library to the University of London.
Price had disagreements with the SPR, especially over a medium named Rudi Schneider. He also exposed a man named Frederick Tansley Munnings, who claimed to produce voices of famous historical figures like Julius Caesar and King Henry VIII. Price used a device called a “voice control recorder” to prove the voices were Munnings’ own. In 1928, Munnings admitted to fraud and sold his confession to a newspaper.
In 1933, Price investigated a man named Frank Decker at the National Laboratory of Psychical Research. Under strict scientific tests, Decker could not produce any paranormal effects. Price also studied the Indian rope trick and fire-walking abilities of a performer named Kuda Bux. In 1936, he broadcast from a supposedly haunted house in Kent for the BBC and wrote books about his investigations. That year, he donated his library to the University of London. In 1937, he tested fire-walking with a man named Ahmed Hussain and rented Borley Rectory for a year. He also reformed the Ghost Club, making it more open-minded and allowing women to join. Price created a bill to regulate psychic practitioners and organized a telepathic test in a magazine in 1939. During the 1940s, he focused on writing, publishing books like The Most Haunted House in England and The End of Borley Rectory.
Price’s friends included other investigators like Harry Houdini and journalist Ernest Palmer.
Edward Warren Miney (1926–2006) and Lorraine Rita Warren (1927–2019) were American paranormal investigators and authors. Edward was a Navy veteran who became a self-taught demonologist and lecturer. Lorraine claimed to be clairvoyant and worked with her husband. In 1952, they founded the New England Society for Psychic Research, considered one of the oldest ghost-hunting groups in the United States. They wrote many books about paranormal investigations and claimed to have studied over 1,000 cases. They were involved in reports of hauntings, such as the Snedeker family haunting, the Enfield Poltergeist, and the Smurl haunting, as well as claims of demonic possession in the Trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson.
The Warrens are most famous for their role in the 1976 Amityville Horror case, where a couple named George and Kathy Lutz claimed their home was haunted by a violent demonic presence. Some people, like authors Stephen and Roxanne Kaplan, said the story was a hoax. Lorraine Warren told a newspaper the haunting was real. The story inspired the 1977 book The Amityville Horror, which became the basis for movies in 1979 and 2005. The Warrens’ version of events appeared in The Conjuring 2 (2016). Some critics, like Benjamin Radford, said the story was false, citing eyewitnesses and evidence. A lawyer named William Weber claimed the story was made up “over many bottles of wine.”
The Warrens became well-known for their paranormal work through books, lectures, and media appearances. They claimed to have studied thousands of hauntings, including the Amityville Horror and the Perron family haunting, which inspired The Conjuring film series. However, skeptics like Perry DeAngelis, Steven Novella, Joe Nickell, and Ben Radford criticized their work, saying it lacked proof and that famous cases like Amityville and the Snedeker family haunting were made up.
Stories from the Warrens inspired many films, TV shows, and documentaries. These include the Amityville Horror movie series (17 films) and the Conjuring Universe films, such as Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation, and Annabelle Comes Home.
Belief statistics
A survey from October 2008 by the Associated Press and Ipsos found that 34% of Americans believe ghosts exist. A Gallup poll from June 2005 showed that about 32% of Americans believe in ghosts, with belief in ghosts decreasing as people grow older. The Gallup poll also studied the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It found that more people believe in haunted houses than in other paranormal beliefs. In the United States, 37% of people believe in haunted houses, while 28% of Canadians and 40% of Britons share this belief. In 2002, the National Science Foundation classified haunted houses, ghosts, and communication with the dead as pseudoscientific beliefs.
Skepticism
Critics question the methods used in ghost hunting, especially the use of equipment, because there is no scientific proof that ghosts are connected to cold spots or electromagnetic fields. Skeptical investigator Joe Nickell says that most ghost hunters use pseudoscience, which is not based on scientific methods. He explains that ghost hunters often use tools like EMF meters, thermometers to find cold spots, and wireless microphones to reduce background noise. However, Nickell points out that these tools are not designed to detect ghosts. He says the least likely explanation for any reading is that it is a ghost. For example, orbs of light seen in photos are often dust or moisture. Voices recorded on tape can be radio signals or noise from the recorder. EMF detectors may react to things like faulty wiring or cell phones. Heat sensors might detect reflections from mirrors or metal surfaces. Nickell also criticizes the practice of searching only in the dark, saying that some ghosts are described as "shadows or dark entities," so he prefers to investigate in lighted conditions.
Investigator Benjamin Radford says most ghost-hunting groups, such as The Atlantic Paranormal Society, make many mistakes in their methods. He says that after watching ghost-hunting shows, it is clear to anyone with a science background that the methods used are not logical or scientific. Radford explains that anyone can be a ghost investigator, but they often ignore other possible explanations for strange events. They may treat emotions or feelings as proof of ghostly encounters. Other mistakes include using unproven tools, making sampling errors, using recording devices improperly, and focusing on the history of a location instead of the actual phenomena. Radford believes that if ghosts exist, they deserve serious scientific study. However, he says most ghost investigations have been poorly done and unscientific, which is why they have not found any real evidence.
Although many ghost hunters believe orbs of light are paranormal or supernatural, skeptic Brian Dunning says they are usually dust particles that reflect light when a photo is taken. In some cases, orbs may be insects or water droplets. He says there is no scientific explanation for how a dead person could become a glowing ball of light visible on film but not to the eye. Dunning argues that if there were scientific support for these beliefs, there would be discussions about how, why, and who this happens to. He has not found any scientific theories that support the idea that orbs are paranormal.
Science writer Sharon Hill studied over 1,000 amateur paranormal research groups, called ARIGs. She found that 879 of these groups focused on ghosts. Many of these groups claim to be scientific, but Hill says they do not follow scientific rules or understand proper scientific methods. Hill explains that these groups often present their paranormal ideas as scientific, especially in public talks or at schools. People who are not familiar with science may be influenced by technical-sounding words or symbols. Hill says the supernatural beliefs of these groups show how far they are from real scientific practices.
In her 2017 book Scientifical Americans, Hill discusses how many people today question the authority of science. Historian Brian Regal, who reviewed the book, asks why some people believe untutored amateurs know more than professional scientists. He also notes that paranormal researchers rarely explore questions like "What is a ghost?" or "Does religion affect whether a person becomes a ghost after death?" Hill provides a history of modern paranormal interests, including ghosts, UFOs, and monsters. She does not criticize the people she writes about but explains their stories through examples. Regal says the book will not change people who believe in the paranormal, but it is an important part of a growing discussion about amateur paranormal research. He says paranormal researchers are not doing real science but instead rely on confirmation bias, selective evidence, and the backfire effect, while complaining that others are biased.
Kenny Biddle is a scientist who writes about paranormal claims for the Skeptical Inquirer magazine. He used to be a ghost hunter but now uses scientific methods to investigate paranormal topics, including ghost photography, equipment, and psychic abilities. In May 2018, Biddle and a group of skeptics spent a night at the White Hill Mansion in New Jersey, a place where many ghost hunters claim to have seen paranormal activity. They asked spirits to help find a hidden foam toy, but no responses were recorded. Biddle repeated the experiment and offered a prize to ghost hunters who can prove they can get direct answers from spirits using EVPs, which are recordings of voices claimed to be from ghosts.
Biddle also criticizes "paranormal gadgets" like the Ovilus, a device that uses electromagnetic fields to select words from a dictionary. He says the device sounds like a "demonic Speak & Spell" and often uses phrases that seem taken from horror movies.
Methods and equipment
Ghost hunters use different methods and tools to look into claims of paranormal activity. Although not all ghost hunters agree on these methods, many groups commonly use them.
Ghost hunters may ask for help from psychics, mediums, or people who claim to see things others cannot. Some people, called trance mediums or "sensitive" individuals, are believed to be able to find and talk to spirits. Experts like demonologists, exorcists, or religious leaders might be invited to say prayers, give blessings, or perform rituals to try to remove ghosts, demons, or "negative energy" from a place.
Ghost hunters may also gather stories from people who live near or have visited the location, and they study the history of the place being investigated.
According to ghost hunters, a cold spot is an area where the temperature drops suddenly or becomes much colder than the surrounding area. These temperature drops can range from a few degrees to over 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Many ghost hunters use thermometers or temperature sensors to measure these changes. Some people believe cold spots show that ghosts or spirits are present, but there are many natural reasons for sudden temperature changes in buildings. There is no scientific proof that ghosts or spirits exist or can affect temperature.
Some ghost hunters say that round shapes in photos are signs of ghosts or other paranormal events. However, these shapes are often caused by flash photography lighting up tiny dust particles or other small objects. This is especially common in modern small digital cameras.
Depiction in media
Ghost Hunters is a television show that follows the work of a ghost hunting group from Warwick, Rhode Island, called The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS). Since 2004, the show has been one of the most popular programs on the Syfy network, combining paranormal investigations with stories about the people involved. It has later been shown on the Oxygen channel, which is part of NBCUniversal, and on the Canadian channel OLN. Members of TAPS also speak at public events, lectures, and conferences.
Media such as television shows and online content have influenced how people think about ghost hunting. According to Annette Hill, a media expert, ghost hunting programs mix storytelling with the appearance of scientific research. These shows encourage viewers to think about and feel strongly about paranormal events. Viewers often join online groups, use social media, or try their own investigations, which helps keep ghost hunting popular. These shows usually focus more on mystery and suspense than on doubt or questioning the paranormal.
Ghost Adventures began in 2008 on the Travel Channel. The show follows ghost hunters Zak Bagans, Nick Groff (seasons 1–10), Aaron Goodwin, Billy Tolley, and Jay Wasley as they visit places said to be haunted and look for proof of ghosts.
Poltergeist is the first movie in the Poltergeist series. Directed by Tobe Hooper and co-written by Steven Spielberg, it was released on June 4, 1982. The story follows the Freeling family, who live in a California neighborhood called Cuesta Verde and are haunted by ghosts. The film shows paranormal investigators, scientists who study the paranormal, and a spiritual medium named Tangina Barrons helping the family. A new version of Poltergeist, directed by Gil Kenan, was released on May 22, 2015. It features a character who hosts a paranormal-themed TV show and helps the family.
Ghostbusters is a 1984 American comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. It stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis as eccentric scientists who start a business to catch ghosts in New York City. The movie was released on June 8, 1984, and earned over $242 million in the United States and more than $295 million worldwide. It became the most successful comedy film of its time. The Ghostbusters story inspired a series of movies, animated shows, video games, and a 2016 remake.
The Conjuring is a 2013 horror film directed by James Wan and written by Chad Hayes and Carey W. Hayes. It is the first movie in The Conjuring Universe franchise. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga play real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, whose stories inspired The Amityville Horror. In The Conjuring, the Warrens help the Perron family in Rhode Island, who experience strange events in their farmhouse in 1971. The film was released in the United States and Canada on July 19, 2013, and earned over $319 million worldwide. A sequel, The Conjuring 2, was released in 2016. A prequel, Annabelle, was released in 2014 and directed by John R. Leonetti.
A 2002 video game called The Haunted Hotel is set in a fictional town in England called Dowerton. The abandoned Station Hotel is the site of many disappearances and is said to be haunted. Players take the role of a man searching for his missing brother, an architect who disappeared while working for a construction company. A group of ghost hunters also vanished there, leaving behind their equipment and notes. The game led to a series of sequels about paranormal events.
A 2020 survival horror game by Kinetic Games lets players act as ghost hunters exploring haunted locations. The game became very popular after being played by well-known Twitch streamers and YouTubers, especially during Halloween.
BuzzFeed Unsolved is a web series that included episodes about ghosts, hauntings, and demons. Hosts Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara discussed these topics and looked for evidence of their existence. In 2019, Bergara and Madej left BuzzFeed to create a new series called Ghost Files in 2022. This series documents their efforts to find proof of supernatural beings and events.
Tourism
Interest in looking for ghosts has helped increase tourism at historical places and areas said to be haunted. A study from the Cornell Hospitality Quarterly in 2020 said, "haunted tourism has helped places like historic house museums and old hospitals, schools, and prisons stay in good condition or earn money for needed repairs." Architectural historian Jen Levstik explained that money from haunted tourism can support historic preservation, "as long as the tours also share correct historical facts about the place and the real stories of the people who lived there, not just sensational stories that aren't proven."