Haunted house
Part of a series on the |
Paranormal |
---|
A haunted house, spook house or ghost house in
In a majority of cases, upon scientific investigation, alternative causes to
History
According to Owen Davies, a paranormal historian, hauntings in the British Isles were usually attributed to fairies, but today hauntings are usually associated with ghostly or supernatural encounters.[2] In other cultures around the world, various spirits are said to haunt vacant homes and locations. In Middle Eastern countries, for example, jinn are said to haunt such areas.[3] Historically, since most people died in their homes, whether they were mansions or hovels, these homes became natural places for ghosts to haunt, with bedrooms being the most common rooms to be haunted. Many houses gained a reputation for being haunted after they were empty or derelict.[4] Davies explains that "if people were to fail to occupy a human space, then external forces would move in."[5]
Cultural attitudes to haunted houses
Haunting is one of the most common paranormal beliefs around the world, according to Benjamin Radford in his book Investigating Ghosts: The Scientific Search for Spirits. He says that almost every town and city has at least one "haunted" place;[6] and that, despite over 100 years of investigation, there has not been a "single verifiable fact about ghosts having been established."[7]
In the first century A.D., the Roman author and statesman Pliny the Younger recorded a ghost story in his letters, which became famous for their vivid account of life during the heyday of the Roman Empire. Pliny reported that the specter of an old man with a long beard, and rattling chains, was haunting his house in Athens. The Greek writer Lucian and Pliny’s fellow Roman Plautus also wrote memorable ghost stories.[8]
In a 2005
In Japan, there is a tradition, linked to Buddhism, of creating obakeyashiki (Japanese: お化け屋敷) (ghost houses) in August, when it is believed that ancestral spirits may visit. People go to ghost houses to listen to frightening stories or seek elaborate decorations and costumes to experience shivers as a way to feel cooler in the hot summer temperatures.[13]
The
In Wuhan, China, the police have built a haunted house to train their police force by testing their nerves. They filled a dilapidated house with faked severed limbs, bones, skulls and a frightening atmosphere that includes lightning and rain. The house is also open to the public.[15]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, Indonesian lawmakers of the Sragen region on the island of Java decided to lock people who did not follow quarantine guidelines in abandoned and supposedly haunted houses. It was an attempt to motivate a superstitious population when science failed to do so.[16]
Proposed causes
According to
A sensed-presence effect, the feeling that there is someone else present in a room, is known to happen when people experience monotony, darkness, cold, hunger, fatigue, fear, and sleep deprivation.[19]
Skeptical investigator Joe Nickell writes that in most cases he investigated, he found plausible explanations for haunting phenomena, such as physical illusions, waking dreams, and the effects of memory. According to Nickell, the power of suggestion along with confirmation bias plays a large role in perceived hauntings. He states that as a house, inn, or other place becomes thought of as haunted, more and more ghostly encounters are reported and that when people expect paranormal events, they tend to notice conditions that would confirm their expectations.[20] Many places deemed to be haunted are purposefully left in a decrepit condition, with wall paper peeling off, old carpeting, and antique decor.[21]
Michael Persinger, an American-Canadian professor of psychology, suggested that perceived apparitions, cold spots, and ghostly touches are perceptual anomalies caused by variations in naturally occurring or man-made magnetic fields.[26] However, a study by psychologist Chris French that attempted to replicate Persinger's findings found no link.[27][28]
Investigating haunted phenomena
Investigations of supposed hauntings often result in simple explanations. For example, in an apparent haunted house in Somerset, England, in the eighteenth century, a boy would make the house shake by jumping on a beam in an adjoining property that ran through both houses. In 1857, a twelve-year-old girl confessed to tying her long hair around objects to give them the ghostly appearance of moving on their own.[29] Tina Resch, a girl from Columbus, Ohio, who claimed that ghostly and paranormal activity occurred in her home, was photographed throwing a telephone while acting surprised at the sudden poltergeist activity.[30]
Another test done by Ben Radford in 2009 was to investigate the claim that batteries are drained by ghosts in haunted locations. He purchased four sets of identical batteries, sealed them in signed, Ziploc bags and wrapped them securely in strong tape to prevent tampering. He placed half of them in the reputed haunted Wolfe Manor, in Clovis, California, and half in a different location. Twenty four hours later he tested the batteries using a meter and discovered that there was no battery drainage in either location. Radford claims that simple, controlled experiments like this are important and should be conducted by ghost hunters to clearly demonstrate if there is a difference between a supposed haunted location and one that is not haunted.[33]
Famous haunted houses
A house in
Borley Rectory, in England, was considered the most haunted house in the world, but its notoriety was deemed to have been created (or at least exaggerated) by Harry Price, an expert magician and proven hoaxer.[35]
Corvin Castle in Romania is considered one of the world's top five haunted places. According to locals, it has been haunted by its former occupant, Vlad the Impaler, ever since he was killed in an ambush.[36] It is also said to be haunted by the spirits of people killed within its walls.[37]
Casa Loma in Toronto, Canada, was completed in 1914. There have been rumors of ghosts there for many years. It is now a historic house museum and landmark that is decorated as a haunted house at Halloween.[37]
The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California is considered one of the most haunted houses in America, although there are no primary sources for the many ghost stories about it. They were most likely inspired by Sarah Winchester, who had her strange, complex, often illogical designs incorporated into the house for almost four decades.[38]
Wukang Mansion, a historical house in Shanghai, has a reputation for being haunted because of the large number of suicides of celebrities, intellectuals, and state-persecuted people there.[39]
-
Casa Loma, Toronto.
-
The Winchester Mystery House, San Jose.
-
The Wukang Mansion, Shanghai.
Halloween-themed haunted houses
In 1972
Commercial haunted houses
The concept of the haunted house was capitalized on as early as 1915 with the Orton and Spooner Haunted House in the Hollycombe Steam Collection (England).[45] The haunted house became a cultural icon when Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was opened in 1969.[43] By the 1970s, commercial haunted houses had sprung up all over the United States in cities like Louisville, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio.[46] These houses are stereotypically Gilded Age homes because changing tastes of the nouveau riche left these homes abandoned or poorly maintained.[47]
Hollywood
Japanese commercial haunted houses, or obakeyashiki, are considered to be some of the best in the world. Experiences include being chased by gore-covered zombies, specially themed attractions, such as schools or hospital wards, and houses from which one must escape within 60 minutes or be found by "slaughtering criminals". Claiming to be the world's largest and most frightening haunted house, the Super Scary Labyrinth of Fear at Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park, in Yamanashi Fujiyoshida-shi Shinnishihara, depicts horrific visual scenes, shrill cries, moans, and smells. It has been visited by over four million people.[49]
Haunted Attractions come in several different types from hayrides, indoor haunted houses to outdoor screamparks. Many amusement parks now host large Halloween events featuring haunted houses.[43]
Selling haunted houses
In the case
In the case at bar, defendant seller deliberately fostered the public belief that her home was possessed. Having undertaken to inform the public at large, to whom she has no legal relationship, about the supernatural occurrences on her property, she may be said to owe no less a duty to her contract vendee.[50][51]
In Hong Kong, where superstition is prevalent, people do not want to buy houses where anything unfortunate, especially a death, has occurred. For homes that are thought to be haunted, the prices are usually 15–20% below market value.[52]
Short stories and novels
Stories of haunted houses appear in the
One of the most prominent twentieth-century books of the genre is the classic The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, a finalist for the National Book Award in 1959. Other notable works of fiction featuring haunted houses include The Turn of the Screw (1897) by Henry James, Hell House (1971) by Richard Matheson, The Shining (1977) by Stephen King, and The House Next Door (1978) by Anne Rivers Siddons.[57]
See also
- Legend tripping
- List of ghosts
- List of reportedly haunted locations in the world
- Nang Ta-khian
- Spirit house
- Stigmatized property
References
Notes
- ISBN 978-1-4381-2979-2. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-4039-3924-1.
- ISBN 978-1-84511-993-5.
- ISBN 978-1-4039-3924-1.
- ^ a b Hines, Morgan. "Haunted Houses: How did this eerie Halloween tradition creep into our brains?". USA Today. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-9364-5513-6.
- ISBN 978-0-9364-5513-6.
- ^ "History of Ghost Stories". HISTORY. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
- Gallup. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
- Gallup. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
- ^ May, Ashley (2017). "How many people believe in ghosts or dead spirits?". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
- ^ Kotyk, Alyse (January 2, 2020). "Canadian women more likely to believe in haunted houses than men:poll". CTV News. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
- ^ Slodkowski, Antoni (2 September 2010). "As temperatures soar, Japanese turn to ghost houses". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ Jennings, Ralph. "Two Disneyland Attractions You Won't See In China And Why". Forbes.com. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ^ Kao, Ernest (2 May 2013). "PoliWuhan build 'Haunted House' to train new recruits". South China Morning Post. scmp.com. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ^ Elliott, Josh (April 21, 2020). "Indonesia locks coronavirus quarantine breakers in 'haunted' houses". Global News. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-4039-3924-1.
- ISBN 978-0-87975-419-8.
- ISBN 978-0-9364-5516-7.
- ^ Nickell, Joe (June 2008). "Catching Ghosts". June 2008. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-9364-5516-7.
- ISBN 978-1-4000-6803-6. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
- ^ Glass, Ira (27 October 2006). "And the Call Was Coming from the Basement". This American Life. Public Radio International.
- ^ "Carrie Poppy: Can Science Reveal The Truth Behind Ghost Stories?". TED Radio Hour. NPR. June 23, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- ^ Dale, Brady (April 5, 2017). "Science: It Works—Except When It Doesn't". Observer. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- ^ Michael A. Persinger & Stanley A. Koren,"Predicting the Characteristics of Haunt Phenomena from Geomagnetic Factors and Brain Sensitivity: Evidence from Field and Experimental Studies", in Hauntings and Poltergeists: Multidisciplinary Perspectives, ed. By James Houran & Rense Lange (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2001)
- S2CID 3944854.
- ^ Keim, Brandon (30 October 2009). "Scientifically Haunted House Suggests You're a Sucker". Wired. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-4039-3924-1.
- ISBN 978-0-9364-5516-7.
- ^ a b c d Radford, Ben (18 September 2007). "Investigating A Haunted House – Buffalo, New York". Skeptical Inquirer. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-9364-5516-7.
- ISBN 978-0-9364-5516-7.
- ^ Nickell, Joe (January 2003). "Amytyville: The Horror Of It All". Skeptical Inquirer. The Magazine for Science and Reason. Skeptical Inquirer. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ Dunning, Brian. "Borley Rectory: the World's Most Haunted House?". Skeptoid. Skeptoid Media. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Miller, Ryan (12 July 2019). "Top 5 Haunted Places Around The World". CEOWORLD Magazine. CEOWorld magazine LTD. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ a b Gilburne, Mitchell; Huber, Hannah (31 December 2013). "The 32 Most Beautiful Haunted Destinations Around the World". Architecture & Design. Conde Nast. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ Stollznow, Karen (29 December 2011). "The Winchester Mystery House". Skeptical Inquirer. Center for Inquiry. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ Heduc, László. "Shanghai, China". Architecture. Architectuul. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ^ Komlongharn, Chanapat (2023-10-31). "The haunting legacy of Ban Phitsanulok – Thailand's very own White House". Tha Nation. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ "Stories behind Thailand's very own White House – Ban Phitsanulok". Thai PBS. 2020-12-05. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ "FENG SHUI FAILS TO STOP GOV'T HOUSE 'GHOSTS'". Khaosod. 2014-09-12. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b c d e Heller, Chris. "A Brief History of the Haunted House". Smithsonian Magazine. Smithsonianmag.com. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- ^ "Some Christians use 'Hell Houses' to reach out on Halloween". usatoday.com.
- ^ "Haunted House (1915)". Hollycombe Working Steam Museum. Archived from the original on April 25, 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
- ^ "Classic Haunts From Cincinnati's Past". The HOUSE OF DOOM!!!. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
- ^ "Why the Victorian mansion is a horror icon". Vox Media. 13 November 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-11-17.
- ^ The Associated Press. "Haunted house business getting frightfully hard. 'Scaring people is easy,' but making money at it a lot harder". 10/30/2005. NBC News. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ Takeichi, Chinami. "Ghost houses a staple of Japanese summers". Japan Today. GPlusMedia Inc. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
- ^ Knauf, Allan. "After New York's Property Condition Disclosure Act". Archived from the original on 25 November 2006. Retrieved 15 February 2007.
- ^ Stambovsky v. Ackley, 169 A.D.2d 254, 260, 572 N.Y.S.2d 672, N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept., 1991.
- ^ Shadbolt, Peter (22 November 2011). "Hong Kong's hot market in 'haunted' houses". CNN World. Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-4447-4029-5.
- ^ Pliny the Younger (1909–1914). "LXXXIII. To Sura". In Charles W. Eliot (ed.). Letters, by Pliny the Younger; translated by William Melmoth; revised by F. C. T. Bosanquet. The Harvard Classics. Vol. 9. P. F. Collier & Son.
- ISBN 1-85043-768-8.
- ^ Kennedy, Maev (25 February 2015). "Strawberry Hill, Horace Walpole's fantasy castle, to open its doors again". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ Tobey, Tas (11 October 2018). "Before Watching 'The Haunting of Hill House,' Read These 13 Haunted Books". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 March 2020.