3 Adjective + noun (second word has stronger stress): mental powers, living systems, physical health, naked eye, special apparatus, distant healing, random intervals
Transcript≤2.20
mental 'powers mind over 'matter living 'systems physical 'health naked 'eye
special 'apparatus distant 'healing random 'intervals sleight of 'hand
≤Exercise B
1 Look at the three topics. Discuss with the class what they know already about these topics and find out what opinions they may have. Put students in pairs and ask each pair to write down one question to which they would like an answer in the lecture.
2 Set for individual work. 3 Play Part 3 straight through; students make notes.
4 Put students in pairs to compare their notes and fill in any gaps they may have.
Transcript≤2.21 Part 3
I’d like to turn now to the topic of mind over matter … This is a general category for phenomena that suggest that the mind can have a direct effect on objects and living bodies. This group of phenomena includes psychokinesis or PK … which means using willpower to move or alter objects … and Direct Mental Interaction with Living Systems (D-M-I-L-S) … which includes using mental powers to improve people’s health … you know, people who believe they can control their health through meditation or even heal others at a distance.
Before we go any further, I should explain that there are two main types of PK. One is macro-PK, which can be seen with the naked eye …, which means we don’t need any instruments to see it. The second is micro-PK, which can only be observed with special apparatus, usually in a laboratory.
To begin with, let’s look at a study in macro-PK. Since the 1970s, many people have claimed to be able to bend metal spoons and other objects with their mental powers. These demonstrations have sometimes taken place in front of eyewitnesses. Others have been filmed. So the evidence has been
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taken directly from observers, many of whom have been convinced that various metal objects have been deformed as a result of psychokinesis.
Now, let’s move on to DMILS. First, let me give you an example. When you’re standing in a crowd, have any of you had a strange feeling that someone’s staring at you? Or, when you’re in a queue, have you ever tried staring at the back of someone’s head until they look round? Have you done that? Interesting, isn’t it? Well, that’s called remote staring, and has actually been researched under laboratory conditions that would classify it as micro-PK. In remote staring experiments, the participant sits in a room with electrodes attached to their skin to detect any reaction when they feel someone is staring at them. Meanwhile, the experimenter stares at them on CCTV from another room for 30-second periods at random intervals. In a few studies, the results have been slightly in favour of the existence of psychic powers … just enough to promote further research.
Finally, I’d like to look very briefly at another example of DMILS … in this case, the power of the mind to heal the body. Several alternative therapies, like reiki, are based on the theory that diseases can be cured by treating imbalances in our energy, even at a distance. Meditation is another case in point. It involves a combination of concentration and relaxation that produces an altered state of mind. There are claims that regular meditation can produce health benefits, and many people report an increased sense of well-being when they meditate. This is known as biofeedback. However, there is no conclusive scientific evidence to prove the benefits of meditation yet. Neither has it been possible, so far, to prove claims of distant healing.
The question is how reliable is the evidence? It’s
quite clear that anecdotal evidence of PK is not sufficient to prove its existence. Research has shown that people are unreliable witnesses and very susceptible to suggestion. So, although some people claim that they have seen objects move as a result of PK, I’m afraid this just can’t be true. The evidence lies in the fact that very few, if any, successful demonstrations have taken place under controlled conditions to eliminate the possibility of fraud or sleight of hand… a quick hand movement used in magic tricks to distract the observer.
Now I’m going to set you a task which will involve investigating some of the points I’ve raised. I want you to do some research into different types of mind over matter. You should focus on one of the three areas I’ve mentioned, and identify examples of micro-PK and macro-PK. I want you to look at some research and find out what measures were taken to eliminate bias or fraud.
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