poltergeist meaning easy

Eight things you need to know about poltergeists – just in time for Halloween

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Halloween is the time of year when interest in the paranormal peaks and people celebrate all things supernatural. Of particular fascination are stories and tales of ghosts and ghouls and poltergists .

The term poltergeist comes from the combining of two German words : poltern (crash) and geist (spirit or ghost). So in other words, a noisy or unruly ghost or spirit. Although less common than traditional hauntings, reports of poltergeist activity dates back to the first century. In modern times the phenomenon has generated several major films and television programmes .

So with this in mind, here are the eight most important things you should know about poltergeists.

1. Parapsychologists can’t agree on what they are

Some parapsychologists view poltergeists as a type of ghost or supernatural entity which are responsible for psychological and physical disturbance. Others believe that such activity originates from “unknown energy” associated with a living person or a location. Sceptics, on the other hand, prefer mundane explanations such as attention seeking, pranks and trickery.

2. Poltergeists tend to prefer women to men

A person-focused poltergeist tends to (but not always) involve a female adolescent who is suffering from emotional turmoil when the activity begins . That said however, not all so called “focal agents” are teenagers. Indeed, William G. Roll , a pioneer in poltergeist research, found the age of people reporting experiences of poltergeist activity ranged from eight to 78 years.

3. Some of the best poltergeists are thought to be fakes

In 1967, at a lawyer’s office in Rosenheim, Germany strange things started to happen in the presence of the 19 year-old secretary Annemarie Schaberl. Paintings and overhead light fittings started swinging, while fluorescent tubes unscrewed themselves and massive spikes in electrical activity occurred. The speaking clock was also called multiple times per minute and furniture was moved. The police, utility company officials, physicists and parapsychologist Hans Bender investigated without explanation. But many believe it was a fake – all due to hidden nylon threads – especially given that the incidents stopped when Schaberl left the firm in early 1968.

4. Poltergeists like to mess with your stuff

Poltergeist activity typically starts with minor isolated incidents . This could include unexplained sounds or familiar objects such as your keys or your phone moving from their usual place. But while poltergeist activity is typically short-lived – manifestations typically lasting around five months – some cases have persisted for several years.

The Chilliwack poltergeist in Canada, for example was active for only two months between 1951 to 1952. During this time the Poltergeist produced loud and violent hammerings on walls accompanied by occasional flying objects. The Brother Doli Case, on the other hand, included a range of phenomena – stains, carvings of images and Welsh words, generally of a religious nature – and these persisted for several years.

5. Experts are still undecided about the Enfield poltergeist

One of the most famous poltergeist cases to happen in the UK involved the Hodgson Family , and their newly occupied council house in Enfield, North London. Between 1977 and 1979 it was the scene of demonic voices, objects moving without explanation, levitation and strange noises. Events focused on the two teenage daughters Margaret and Janet.

Several reliable witnesses observed phenomena – these witnesses included a police constable, a press photographer and investigators from the Society for Psychical. While investigators did discover some evidence of pranks and fakery , it was believed that many of the poltergeist incidents were genuine.

6. Some believe that emotional stress can cause activity

Some ghost hunters and paranormals propose that poltergeists are actually the emotions of troubled individuals – built up during times of stress. This theory, known as Spontaneous Recurring Psychokinesis suggests that this built-up stress then unconsciously projects outwards in the form of mental energy, which effects the physical environment and produces the phenomena attributed to poltergeists. But there is little evidence to support this notion.

7. Others believe they are spirits of the dead

Many people believe that spirits of the dead are responsible for poltergeist activity. This is said to be because people who experience them perceive an underlying intelligence and meaningful communication with an otherworldly being. This view proposes that a disembodied consciousness – or soul – survives bodily death . But again, there also isn’t any compelling scientific evidence to support this view either.

8. But sceptics put a lot of it down to misinterpretation

Misinterpretation is most likely to occur when people believe a place is haunted and they are looking for evidence to confirm this. In this way, a lot of poltergeist activity can actually be attributed to inaccurate perception of natural phenomenon. Take the case of the women haunted by a ticking clock, it was actually discovered that the noise was created by a tiny insect . Other cases such as “ the curse of the spinning Egyptian ” – an Egyptian statue in a Manchester museum appeared to turn itself during the day – have equally been explained by physical factors such as minor seismic activity, underground streams and even rainfall patterns.

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• poltergeist

a ghost or spirit supposed to manifest its presence by noises, knockings, etc.

Origin of poltergeist

Words nearby poltergeist.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use poltergeist in a sentence

It’s a ghost hunter claiming that a wily poltergeist had jammed his poltergeist -detection device.

Listen to these genuinely disturbing choices below to include for your own poltergeist party, and be sure to check out all the past episodes of The Playlist in the archives.

H.R. Giger, best known for his work on movies like Alien and poltergeist 2, died at the age of 74.

The plot hews close to poltergeist , the Tobe Hooper-directed, Steven Spielberg-produced haunted house classic from 1982.

“It was a pure poltergeist phenomenon and absolutely true to form” he said.

I was told you claimed you had to have a poltergeist in the process.

I believe that the idea was to appease the poltergeist , who would otherwise vex and disturb the young couple.

Rackets in general are caused by lares domestici (“brownies”) or the poltergeist .

Yet where did these articles go, and of what use would they be to a poltergeist ?

In short, the usual strange feats that characterise poltergeist phenomena.

British Dictionary definitions for poltergeist

/ ( ˈpɒltəˌɡaɪst ) /

a spirit believed to manifest its presence by rappings and other noises and also by acts of mischief, such as throwing furniture about

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Definition of poltergeist noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

poltergeist

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The Meaning of Poltergeist: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of poltergeist? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word poltergeist, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

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How can the word poltergeist be used in a sentence?

There are many different ways in which the word poltergeist can be used in a sentence. Below are many examples of poltergeist.

The young couple made claims of poltergeist activity, but later researchers discovered their symptoms were not typical of normal poltergeist experiences. The subjects had memory lapses, not water turbulence, structural movement of the property, or the shifting of the few of the objects in their home. This was not the work of a loud spirit or juvenile trickster – later, a gas leak was discovered.

The ghost hunter solved many cases of poltergeist activity outbreaks in her elementary school. From illusion to delusions, the young girl always managed to hunt down the perpetrator rumble-ghost with scrutiny and banish such events and harassment for good.

The Fox sisters made a list of activities and a list of clothes messed up that they believed were caused by paranormal activity or some invisible entity. Diane hired a ghost hunter who had worked in Brazil, Australia, the United States and European nations to eliminate the physical disturbances and determine the type of ghost or poltergeist that was haunting them.

The father of the hole believed that the poltergeist phenomenon was due to psychological factors, but his children’s descriptions of the phantasms matched fictional descriptions of poltergeists in ghostlore , and the medium believed this particular person was a bell witch haunting the uncovered chimney from which strange sounds emanated. The Cape Cod home had all the hallmarks of a typical poltergeist outbreak, including strong mechanical vibrations and the movement of specific objects in the home.

There were many credulous witnesses who saw the poltergeist events at the ruins of the abandoned McDonalds. The structure of the building was in shambles, and the children who snuck in after their sport activity had finished were certain that such alleged poltergeist manifestations were true.

The young boy asserted that his sportswear was haunted by a poltergeist and that is why he couldn’t participate in gym or outdoor activities. Really, he just didn’t want to wear them and decided to blame it on unseen forces and parapsychology.

The Princeton University library was haunted by a poltergeist who was disturbed from his resting place by late- night students. On the computers , he would replace the right word in an essay with his own list of words meant to haunt the students. This new list would contain hidden messages in the public domain and archives and scare the sleep-deprived students. Sometimes he would even throw small objects or an American Heritage dictionary at them.

What are synonyms and antonyms for the word poltergeist?

There are many different words that a person could use in place of the word poltergeist. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same definition as another word or phrase. Learning synonyms is a great way to expand your English language vocabulary and avoid repeating yourself. This list of synonyms for the word poltergeist is provided by Thesaurus . 

•  phantasm
•  visitor
•  Doppelganger
•  demon
•  appearance
•  spirit
•  kelpie
•  apparition
•  haunter
•  phantom
•  spook
•  revenant
•  ghost
•  vision
•  specter
•  banshee

Are also numerous words and phrases that mean the opposite of the word poltergeist. These opposite words are called antonyms, which are another great way to expand your vocabulary. This list of antonyms for the word poltergeist is also provided by a Thesaurus . 

•  presence
•  perceptibility
•  nuts and bolts
•  substance
•  verity
•  bottom line
•  object
•  realness
•  authenticity
•  what’s what
•  realism
•  like it is
•  substantive
•  being
•  verisimilitude
•  way of it
•  phenomenon
•  corporeality
•  substantiality
•  entity
•  certainty
•  real world
•  sensibility
•  solidity
•  materiality
•  concreteness
•  how things are
•  truth
•  validity
•  actuality
•  absoluteness
•  matter
•  palpability
•  genuineness
•  name of the game
•  reality
•  brass tacks
•  tangibility
•  existence

What is the origin of the word poltergeist?

According to Etymonline , the word poltergeist has been used since 1838, from the Middle High German word Poltergeist literally translated as “noisy ghost.” This comes from the Old High German poltern meaning to make noise or rattle, from the Proto-Indo-European root bhel meaning to sound or ring. This is also the source of related words bell and bellow. This was affixed to the German Geist ghost. In Northern England and Germany, most people credit such pranks and phenomena to a boggart in local folklore.

Overall, the word poltergeist refers to an unseen ghost that causes disruption – whether of physical objects, the creation of disorder, or other troublesome spirits. Poltergeist is also a film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is one of many German language words we use in the English language.

• poltergeist | Origin and meaning of poltergeist | Online Etymology Dictionary  
• poltergeist: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense 
• POLTERGEIST Synonyms: 17 Synonyms & Antonyms for POLTERGEIST | Thesaurus 
• REALITY Synonyms: 48 Synonyms & Antonyms for REALITY | Thesaurus 
• Poltergeist | Definition of Poltergeist | Merriam-Webster  

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What Is a Poltergeist?

Noisy ghosts may be psychokinetic phenomena rather than hauntings

Poltergeist is a German word meaning "noisy spirit." It describes many effects such as knocks on walls, objects thrown about by unseen hands, furniture moved, and other occurrences. These manifestations were long thought to be the mischievous pranks of spirits or, more frightening, the malevolent works of demons. 

Current research indicates, however, that poltergeist activity may have nothing to do with ghosts or spirits . Since the activity seems to center around an individual, it is believed that it is caused by the subconscious mind of that individual. It is, in effect, psychokinetic activity, moving objects solely by the power of the mind. The individual is often under emotional, psychological or physical stress (even going through puberty).

What Are Poltergeist Effects?

Poltergeist effects can include rappings on walls and floors, the physical movement of objects, effects on lights and other electric appliances. There can even the manifestation of physical phenomena such as water dripping inexplicably from ceilings where no pipes are hidden, and small fires breaking out. Thanks largely to the work of parapsychologist William G. Roll in the 1950s and '60s, they are now commonly understood to be psychokinetic manifestations produced by living persons.

RSPK - Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis

Roll called it "recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis" or RSPK and found that the paranormal activity could almost always be traced to a person, clinically labeled an "agent." This agent, although a victim of the puzzling and sometimes frightening activity, is unaware that he or she is actually the cause of it. By some mechanism that is still not understood, the activity arises out of the unconscious or subconscious of the individual in response to emotional stress or trauma.

So little is really known about the human brain and mind, but somehow the psychological stresses suffered by this agent produce effects in the surrounding physical world: pounding on the walls of a house, a book flying off a shelf, glowing orbs zipping across a room, heavy furniture sliding across the floor - perhaps even audible voices. In some rare cases, the manifestations can turn violent, producing scratches on the skin, shoves and slaps. So powerful is the unconscious mind under stress.

One possible and famous historical case is that of The Bell Witch from the early 19th century. This was a case of severe poltergeist phenomena that centered around young Betsy Bell. The activity, then attributed to a "witch", threw things around the Bell home, moved furniture, and pinched and slapped the children, according to eyewitnesses. Betsy Bell appears to have been the agent in this instance.

How Common Are Poltergeists?

Poltergeist agents are very often adolescents, but not always. It seems true that some adolescents under the combined stresses of growing up and the hormonal changes occurring during puberty can produce poltergeist activity, but adults under stress can be agents as well - especially, perhaps, if they have unresolved stresses from childhood.

It is unknown how common poltergeist activity is. Certainly, remarkable cases in which household objects are tossed about are relatively rare. But those are the cases that get attention and are documented simply because they are remarkable, especially if the activity persists over many days, weeks or months. There may be many more cases, however, that occur just once or on rare occasions to people.

Documented Cases of Poltergeists

There is ample documentation that poltergeist activity does take place, in various levels of severity and for various lengths of time. Many cases have been documented by such researchers as Hans Holzer, Brad Steiger and others (their books are available in libraries and bookstores). Read more about Three Famous Poltergeist Cases  and The Terrifying Amherst Poltergeist .

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• poltergeist
• 1.1 Etymology
• 1.2 Pronunciation
• 1.3.1 Synonyms
• 1.3.2 Derived terms
• 1.3.3 Translations
• 2.1 Etymology
• 2.2 Pronunciation
• 2.3.1 Declension
• 2.4 Further reading

English [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ].

Unadapted borrowing from German Poltergeist , from poltern ( “ to rumble ” ) +‎ Geist ( “ ghost ” ) .

Pronunciation [ edit ]

• ( US ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈpoʊl.tɚˌɡaɪst/
• ( Received Pronunciation ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈpɒl.tə.ɡaɪst/ , /ˈpəʊl.təˌɡaɪst/

Noun [ edit ]

poltergeist ( plural poltergeists or poltergeister )

• 1925 July – 1926 May , A[rthur] Conan Doyle , “ (please specify the chapter number) ”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia , published April 2019: "Perhaps even a small poltergeist might come your way. Any trifle would be welcome." His bull's bellow of laughter followed them into the lift.

Synonyms [ edit ]

• See also Thesaurus:ghost

Derived terms [ edit ]

• poltergeistic
• poltergeistism
• poltergeistlike
• poltergeisty

Translations [ edit ]

Polish [ edit ].

Borrowed from German Poltergeist .

• IPA ( key ) : /ˈpɔl.tɛr.ɡajst/
• Rhymes: -ɛrɡajst
• Syllabification: pol‧ter‧geist

poltergeist   m   anim

Declension [ edit ]

Further reading [ edit ].

• poltergeist in Wielki słownik języka polskiego , Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• poltergeist in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese [ edit ]

poltergeist   m ( plural poltergeists )

• ( parapsychology ) poltergeist ( a disruptive ghost )

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poltergeist noun

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What does the noun poltergeist mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun poltergeist . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the noun poltergeist ?

How is the noun poltergeist pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun poltergeist come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun poltergeist is in the 1840s.

OED's earliest evidence for poltergeist is from 1848, in the writing of C. Crowe.

poltergeist is a borrowing from German.

Etymons: German Poltergeist .

Nearby entries

• Polovtsy, n. 1735–
• polpetta, n. 1822–
• Pol Roger, n. 1889–
• polroz, n. 1806–
• polrumptious, adj. 1787–
• pol sambol, n. 1949–
• polska, n. a1822–
• polt, n. c1610–
• polt, v. 1652–
• Poltalloch, n. 1887–
• poltergeist, n. 1848–
• poltergeistic, adj. 1955–
• poltergeistism, n. 1952–
• polt-foot, n. & adj. 1578–1880
• polt-footed, adj. 1589–1616
• polthogue, n. 1808–
• polting, adj. 1789–
• poltroon, n. & adj. a1529–
• poltroonery, n. 1590–
• poltroonish, adj. 1801–
• poltroonism, n. 1644–

Meaning & use

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Pronunciation

Compounds & derived words, entry history for poltergeist, n..

poltergeist, n. was revised in September 2006

poltergeist, n. was last modified in July 2023

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

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• new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into poltergeist, n. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of poltergeist, n. were published in:

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Citation details

Factsheet for poltergeist, n., browse entry.

The Paranormal Society

It's Not Imagination.

What is a Poltergeist?

Poltergeist is a German word that means noisy ghost. The word comes from the German term poltern, to knock, and geist, which means spirit. It’s very important to understand the true nature of the poltergeist phenomenon. The best defining mark of a poltergeist is any manipulation of the physical environment, such as the movement of objects, physical attacks, spontaneous combustion, etc. Much of the time, the Poltergeist phenomenon is incorrectly credited to mischievous spirits, ghosts or extremely negative entities. However, more modern scientific studies reveal convincing arguments that poltergeists are associated with psychokinesis, which is the ability to move things by power of the mind alone. This kinetic type of energy remains unexplained, but even some mainstream scientists are starting to explore the idea that it does exist, and it’s one of the few paranormal theories that has a bit of solid scientific and psychological evidence behind it.

Are They Spirits?

One very important thing to note is that Poltergeists are not spirits. Instead, theories state that poltergeists are mass forms of energy that a living person is unknowingly controlling. Poltergeist hauntings may be the most misunderstood, most terrifying, and one of the rarest types of hauntings. Some researchers and parapsychologists believe that poltergeist hauntings are not even a haunting at all. In some cases, extreme poltergeists activity has even been linked to negative entities. A key question is whether the psychokinesis is causing the activity, or if it is actually occurring from an unseen troubled spirit or ghost. One thing to note is that many famed paranormal researchers have labeled poltergeist hauntings as demonic, blatantly boasting that a demon is the true cause and quickly dismissing the psychological hypothesis. While nothing has yet to be proven, we truly believe that a poltergeist haunting, at its onset, has no relation to anything demonic… if in fact the realm of demons even exists.

Observed Activity

In a typical poltergeist case there is most likely a variety of phenomena taking place. There may be knocking and tapping noises, sounds with no visible cause, disturbance of stationary objects like household items and furniture, doors slamming, lights turning on and off, fires breaking out and much, much more. Chairs have been known to move around by themselves; walls shake from loud, unexplained banging. Water drips from a ceiling. Things like hairbrushes and jewelry disappear, only to reappear at a later time in right where they should have been in the first place. Usually, after a subtle and somewhat calm start , the activity will become more intense, manifesting itself through voices and even the appearance of full apparitions. Furniture may slide across the room and beds may shake. Sometimes the effects of a poltergeist are more playful than harmful, but sometimes the activity has been known to be downright nasty. Reports of scratches, bites, harmful objects being put in one’s way such as glass shards on a pillow or tacks under a bed sheet have been noted, as well as possession. Poltergeists build over time to a climax, then start over. They can travel anywhere. Most poltergeists nearing the climax of their energy can become dangerous to the living. Inflicting both mental and physical terror in extreme cases. Poltergeist hauntings seem to mysteriously go away as quickly as they began. The most famous and terrible accounts of a poltergeist attacking a family is the Bell Witch.

Causes and Factors

A common factor of classic poltergeist activity is the presence of an adolescent, usually female, in the household or for all of the activity to be centered around one specific person. It’s not uncommon for the activity to not take place unless that person is present at the time. In most cases, when that specific person is removed from the location, the events cease. The person causing the phenomena is doing so subconsciously and usually isn’t even aware that they’re the agent. The activity could also be centered around someone who is under an extreme amount of stress. When the stress is relieved, sometimes by leaving the location itself, the problems stop. If the stress continues, the poltergeist phenomena seems to do so as well. In true poltergeist hauntings, none of the activity will continue after the person is removed from the environment, as they are not there to create it or influence a possible unseen entity. It has been reported, however, that activity can return later if the “right” person visits or lives in a significantly haunted place. This would lead one to believe that it requires combined psychic energy to manifest such terrible hauntings. In most cases, relieving the inner problems of the individual is the key to stopping the poltergeist activity.

To Sum It Up

On the other hand, not all cases of supposed poltergeist activity involve disturbed individuals. Not all hauntings can be easily categorized and it’s important to not jump to conclusions. In some cases, what appears to be the work of a disturbed person may actually be that of the spirits, and vice versa. In addition, some genuinely haunted spots seem to be so filled with energy that witnesses at the location can even manifest their own phenomena. Poltergeist activity provides an excellent opportunity for researchers to document strange phenomena, but these cases most likely won’t have anything to do with ghosts and there is really no way to help the victims. It’s usually best to refer the family to a good counselor or mental health care provider rather than try to act as a paranormal investigator. A mental health professional is the best person to provide assistance under these circumstances since psychokenesis normally manifests because of significant emotional disturbance.

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Poltergeists – Everything You Need to Know

Last Updated on May 31, 2021

When people think of a typical ghost, it’s usually a strange figure of a deceased person who just vanishes from sight. Some of us might think of shadow people who flit from place to place. What we usually don’t think of, though, is a being that is capable of throwing objects, banging on walls, or pushing others around.

And yet, it is actually fairly common among a specific type of ghosts. A ghost known for causing physical chaos in its area is known as a poltergeist , the German word for “noisy ghost.’ Throughout history, cultures of all kinds had stories of ghosts capable of lifting items, pounding against walls, opening doors, and even attacking others.

This unique type of ghost has been discussed around the world and even made its way into pop culture via movies like Poltergeist and The Haunting . That being said, there’s a lot more to poltergeists that just noise and bangs. Here’s what every would-be ghost hunter needs to know…

What Are Poltergeists, Really?

These “noisy ghosts” are a specific category of haunting that can interact with matter and make noise by hitting or throwing objects nearby. For the most part, poltergeists seem to be fairly cognizant and capable of understanding that they’re interacting with people.

Unlike typical ghosts, poltergeists generally appear to be malevolent, with the intent of frightening or even harming people around them. Their actions are generally not understood but tend to involve loud bangs, objects being thrown, and similar behavior.

What Are Poltergeists Capable Of?

It’s worth pointing out that poltergeists are really only known for moving around objects and making noise. As far as other abilities go, things are pretty variable. Poltergeists can vary greatly from one haunting to another.

Poltergeists can be both weak and strong, and how they eIn many cases, the bangs, crashes, and scratches poltergeists make don’t actually involve any damage to the items in a home. Other times, that racket is actually coming from things being flung off shelves.

Light poltergeist activity might include things like pulling the sheets off sleeping people, heavy footsteps in hallways, or making tapping noises on doors. Heavy poltergeist activity involves things like pushing people off stairs, pictures being ripped off walls, doors slamming shut, and similar things

Another, stranger, aspect of poltergeist actvity involves missing items. Homes haunted by poltergeists have a strange tendency of having items go missing. When (or if) they turn up they’re often placed in a place where they couldn’t possibly be placed.

What Do Poltergeists Look Like?

Unlike with other types of ghosts, poltergeist appearances are totally random. Many poltergeists are totally invisible to people, but seem to be noticeable by animals. Some poltergeists can also be visibly seen walking through hallways just like a typical person would, while others may appear like dark mists.

It all seems to depend on what kind of power the ghost has. Stronger ghosts are more likely to be visible than weaker ones. However, some of the most powerful poltergeists in the world have never been seen.

What Causes Poltergeist Hauntings To Happen?

Poltergeists are considered to be a different type of haunting than most others. With most ghosts, there is an understanding that a person died and what’s left is their spirit. This isn’t always the consensus when it comes to poltergeist hauntings.

Believe it or not, there are multiple schools of thought when it comes to the origins of poltergeists. These below are the most common:

Angry Spirits

Much like with many other haunts, one of the leading beliefs behind poltergeist origins deals with a person who died and had unfinished business on Earth. Many people believe that poltergeists are simply ghosts of people who want to cause a little chaos or who want to let their rage loose on the living.

Since most hauntings are ascribed to the deceased, this concept makes a lot of sense. This is especially true when you look at the types of places that tend to attract poltergeist activity. Homes that are known for being places of violence are especially prone to attacks.

The Enfield Poltergeist is an excellent example of a poltergeist believed to be the spirit of an angry soul. A home in Enfield, England became the focal point of a major paranormal investigation after tenants saw chairs moving by themselves and heard loud bangs echo through the walls. Many investigators believed this to be a spirit who hadn’t passed on.

Demonic Activity

Many Christians and religious groups believe that poltergeist activity, particularly when it’s very intense, could be the work of demonic entities that are trying to attack people. There’s a common belief that human spirits can’t move objects or attack other people, which infers that a non-human entity could be at fault.

Borley Rectory, once known as “the most haunted house of England” was known for full-bodied apparitions of nuns, spectral horses, and monks. Terrifying as the phantoms were, the poltergeist activity was worse.

Rectors and family members who stayed in the house were regularly attacked by unseen forces, forced to watch in terror as cooking utensils flew across the kitchen, and were repeatedly hit by levitating stones.

Multiple exorcisms were performed at the rectory, but none were successful due to priests being hit with heavy rocks as they recited passages from the bible. The rectory eventually burned down, possibly sparked by the demons themselves.

Psychic Phenomena

One of the stranger aspects of poltergeist hauntings is its tendency to focus on children and teenagers going through puberty, as well as people who lead very troubled lives. In many cases, hauntings occur in locations where people haven’t died and no history of violence occurs.

Parapsychologists often believe that the poltergeist activity isn’t caused by a ghost. Instead, they believe that a person who may be too stressed may unlock paranormal abilities that they don’t have control of.

One of the biggest proponents of this theory was psychologist Carl Jung, who blamed a woman’s trance on a table and a knife suddenly splitting in two.

Natural Phenomena

Along with psychic phenomena and ghosts, another subset of theories involve natural phenomena. Scientists have suggested that underwater currents might be the cause of some of the bangs and squeaks associated with poltergeists.

Other suggestions that fit under the “natural phenomena” umbrella include electrical interference, ball lightning, and seismic activity. That being said, this explanation doesn’t explain the intelligent behavior of poltergeist activity.

Is The Movie Poltergeist Realistic?

Well, yes and no.

Poltergeist was based on a true story about a haunting that took place in Long Island. The haunting did include objects moving on their own, people being attacked, and children seeing strange figures in the house.

However, the “Hollywood effect” is very real and it was sensationalized to be a more terrifying tale onscreen. So, while the real haunting may not have involved children being dragged into voids, it was still fairly terrifying for the people involved.

How Can You Get Rid Of A Poltergeist?

If you are unlucky enough to end up with a poltergeist in your home, your options are fairly limited on what you can do. Poltergeists are very different from standard hauntings and are unpredictable when it comes to dispelling them. Here’s what we know about them:

• Some poltergeists will cease activity if asked politely. This is rare, but it does happen.
• Doing an exorcism or cleansing tends to help. This seems to put a kibosh on most hauntings, including poltergeist activity. A house blessing, a cleansing with sage, or even an exorcism can work.
• Some won’t respond to exorcisms. Though most poltergeists will cease behavior if an exorcism is performed, not all do. The Bell Witch haunting, which eventually culminated in the death of a person, was a poltergeist haunting that didn’t respond to exorcisms. Borley Rectory’s ghosts, too, are a good example.
• Many suddenly stop acting out, or fade out their activity over time. A common trend among poltergeists is to have their energy decrease after major bursts. One might even say they “grow out of it.”

Generally speaking, the best way to get rid of a poltergeist is to just get away from them, and hope they don’t follow you!

About Brandon Hall

Hi! I am Brandon. Writer and content creator for PA, specializing in phenomena that is sometimes beyond normal scientific understanding. My mission is to help guide people seeking answers in a positive and enlightening way.

3 thoughts on “Poltergeists – Everything You Need to Know”

Hi Brandon, I suggest you do more research on the subject. Today’s scientists believe that poltergeist have a human “Agent”. They are not ghosts or demons. The Agent can be anyone, and any age although mostly limited to younger folks especially kids going through puberty. The agent is usually under great stress from shame, anxiety hatred or any unresolved personal issues. Look up The Rhine Research Center and take some time to research J.B. Rhine’s work on psi. Read articles by William Roll and his book “The Poltergeist” (which was actually the basis for the 1st poltergeist movie. Unfortunately they took to many liberties in writing the script. J.B. Rhine sent researchers J.B.Pratt & and William Roll to investigate the Seaford Case. Roll was the primary investigator in a poltergeist case in California and wrote the book which was made into the movie ‘The Entity” (many liberties were also taken writing the screen play) Great movie but the real observations will scare the heck out of you. Drop me a note at PortCityParanormal@ yahoo.com for further resources on this topic if you are interested.

On 11-9-2021 somewhere around 9:00 pm I was sitting at my computer when about four or five loud bangs came from about ten feet away from me. The only light that was on was a desk lamp so I didn’t see anything. When I turned the light on I saw my old cell phone on the floor. That phone was on the top shelf of an antique secretary, about five foot high. I know where that phone was because I placed it there about two weeks ago, and I placed a pair of gloves on top of it. The phone flew seven feet across the room and hit a book cabinet, and bounced on the floor and ended up six feet from the secretary. I was a witness to this event. Last year at Christmas time I left the house for about an hour. Upon returning home I had one of my Christmas decorations all twisted up in the strings it was hanging from. I did not witness this event.

Is this a haunting? Is this a poltergeist? Over the years I have heard someone calling my name from the same area of the house or just outside the front door but no one was there. Right now the curser on my computer is not where it should be as I am typing, it is one space behind. Please let me know what you think.

poltergeists feed off fear,give them love they fade away.

Lived with a poltergeist for years,it was getting stronger all the time. Getting angry with it gives it more power, I had a cross that had been given to me,it disappeared for about two years,then reappeared were I Ieft it.

The feeling you get of being watched, Things moving,and the buzzing sound in the room. Taps,bangs are the norm. And then the dark shapes that float around the room.

Don’t fear it,I did for years,

Get Love in your heart,and it will be gone.

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About poltergeists, phenomena and theories, what does 'poltergeist' mean, what are poltergeist phenomena, the 'poltergeist agent', poltergeist outbreaks, poltergeists and trickery, theories of poltergeists.

• Investigating and evaluation poltergeist cases

Further Reading

'Poltergeist' is a German word meaning 'noisy spirit'. The term is commonly applied to cases in which there are recurrences of spontaneous physical phenomena that appear to be paranormal in nature. About Poltergeists Please enable JavaScript About Poltergeists Because the manifestations are recurrent, largely spontaneous and unpredictable, and seemingly involve paranormal interactions between psychological and physical events, some researchers use the term 'Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis' (RSPK) instead of 'poltergeist'. The term 'RSPK' may also be preferred for being a more neutral and descriptive label that does not imply that the phenomena are necessarily due to the activity of 'spirits'.

Typically, poltergeist (RSPK) manifestations involve recurrences of one or more of the following (apparently paranormal) phenomena: Throwing or bombardments of projectiles (e.g., stones or other small items) Opening, closing or banging of doors or windows Movements (including levitation) of domestic objects (e.g., furniture) Sounds of raps or cracking Imitative noises (e.g., sound of crying baby, or of barking dog) Puddles, flooding Outbreaks of fire Pinching, scratching or biting of skin Graffiti or writing (e.g., on walls) Electrical disturbances and mechanical failures Lights or luminous effects Significantly, many of these manifestations are common to both modern and historical poltergeist cases, suggesting that there may be a consistent pattern of phenomena involved. However, the vast majority of recorded poltergeist cases have occurred in Europe or America and it is unclear whether a similar pattern of poltergeist activity manifests in other continents or cultures (see, however, Healy & Cropper, 2014 ).

Poltergeist agent Therese Selles Poltergeist cases are most commonly domestic affairs, with the phenomena primarily affecting the home and immediate family. Occasionally, the workplace is involved. Typically one family member seems to be the focus of poltergeist activity - i.e., this person is present when the phenomena occur, and appears in some way to trigger their occurrence. Unlike cases of hauntings, which are generally associated with particular locations, poltergeist cases appear to be focussed around a specific person (occasionally two people). If the family moves home, the phenomena sometimes follow this person (known as the 'poltergeist agent') to the new home. The poltergeist agent is usually a child, teenager, or young adult - most commonly a pre-pubescent or pubescent girl (9-13 years). In many poltergeist cases, there are complex and emotionally conflicted family dynamics. Often the family has a strict, authoritarian and punitive regime, and may be strongly religious. One widely-accepted theory is that poltergeist phenomena are a psychokinetic manifestation of the agent's intense repressed anger at another, more powerful, family member (who may, directly or indirectly, be the target of the activity). Often, however, the anger seems to be directed at the self, so that the poltergeist agent becomes the victim. Despite the often dramatic and threatening nature of poltergeist manifestations, people who experience or are targetted by them are very rarely seriously hurt by the phenomena. Any physical harm is usually restricted to scratches, minor cuts, or small bruises, sometimes as the result of being hit by projectiles.

Poltergeist cases usually break out suddenly, often triggered by a traumatic event, or new source of emotional stress. Most outbreaks do not last for more than a few weeks or months, and usually end abruptly. Some notable cases, however, have continued for several years. Often the activity dies down or ceases when there is a significant change in individual or family circumstances (e.g., moving house, switching schools, or a change in the household's membership). Individual and family counselling or psychotherapy can also help in bringing the outbreak to an end.

Skeptics argue that many, if not all, poltergeist cases, are the result of trickery - generally by the poltergeist agent, who sometimes has accomplices. They point out that the agent is typically a young child or adolescent who is simply playing pranks, either out of a sense of fun or mischief, or to get attention, or as a way of expressing repressed hostility, or exacting revenge, against a disliked family member. In a minority of cases, poltergeist agents have been caught red-handed (e.g., throwing or moving objects). Although only rarely discovered, skeptics suggest that certain features of poltergeist cases indicate that trickery may be much more prevalent than it appears. This includes the fact that observers almost always see projectiles already in flight - they don't see the object begin its movement. Also other manifestations (e.g., raps, imitative noises, graffiti) are very easy to fake, while the more dramatic phenomena (e.g., levitations) are rare and notoriously difficult to record. More sympathetic investigators argue that even when trickery is discovered, it would be wrong to dismiss the case out of hand, since it is always possible that genuinely paranormal phenemona may occur alongside activity that is faked. It is also important to recognise that some trickery may be unconscious, possibly carried out in a dissociated psychological state, rather than being a deliberate act of mischief or revenge. Such unconscious trickery may indeed be an important clue that helps us to understand the psychological underpinnings of a poltergeist case.

If trickery is ruled out, there remain four main theories that have been put forward to explain poltergeist manifestions: 1. Natural Explanations In some cases, phenomena may be explained as a misinterpretation of natural events. For example, noises in the walls or cavities of a house may be caused by birds or rodents. Noises and vibrations may also be due to wind, underground watercourses, airlocks in plumbing, or earth tremors. Puddles and flooding may be the result of leakages or condensation. Estimates suggest, however, that natural artefacts account for only a very small percentage of reported poltergeist phenomena (less than 2%). 2. Spiritist explanations Traditional systems of belief usually assume that poltergeist phenomena are caused by mischievous or malevolent spirits, ghosts, or demons. In some cases these spiritual entities are believed to possess the victim (poltergeist agent). Poltergeist outbreaks are therefore met with fear, and with attempts at magical or religious remedies involving ritual, prayer, or exorcism. With the advent of the spiritualism movement in the 1840s, poltergeist manifestations came to be understood as attempts by departed souls to communicate with the living, perhaps with the aim of resolving unfinished business, or to seek release from an earth-bound state. The spiritualist approach to poltergeists therefore generally involves establishing a channel of communication with the departed soul by holding a mediumistic seance. In these seances the 'poltergeist' (spirit) may apparently reveal its identity using a system of coded raps, or through voice phenomena, or in writing, or by using a ouija board. Interestingly, people who later become spiritualist mediums are often the focus of poltergeist activity in childhood. 3. Psychokinetic explanations Psychokinesis (PK) refers to the apparent ability of some individuals to paranormally affect physical processes using mental powers. Because poltergeist phenomena tend to focus around the poltergeist agent, it is suggested that they are caused by spontaneous eruptions of the agent's latent psychokinetic powers. As poltergeist outbreaks are usually associated with high levels of emotional stress, it is also presumed that this may amplify the agent's psychokinetic energies until they eventually explode in the form of poltergeist activity. It has also been suggested that certain environmental factors may amplify the psychokinetic energies of some sensitive individuals, leading to poltergeist manifestations. In particular, research indicates an association with electromagnetic fields (e.g., the proximity of high-voltage power lines) and with geomagnetic disturbances (e.g., caused by solar activity). 4. Psychological and Psychiatric Explanations Psychological or psychiatric factors seem to play an important role in the majority of poltergeist cases, often contributing to the stress experienced by the agent. Most poltergeist agents are young children, or teenagers, who may be struggling to cope with the onset of puberty, with family tensions and other interpersonal difficulties, or with physical, verbal or sexual abuse. In many cases, the poltergeist outbreak is preceded by an identifiable emotional or interpersonal crisis. In some cases, the poltergeist agent may be diagnosed as having an anxiety disorder, hysterical conversion, or dissociative condition. Multiple personality has also been suggested as a factor in certain cases. Psychological, psychiatric and psychosocial factors clearly play an important role in poltergeist manifestations. They may help to explain what triggers and maintains an outbreak, and they may also suggest a basis and motivation for trickery. But they cannot account for any genuinely paranormal activity. If any elements of a poltergeist case are presumed to be paranormal, a purely psychological and psychiatric interpretation must be supplemented by a perspective that recognises the paranormality of the phenomena.

Investigating and evaluating poltergeist cases

By their nature, poltergeist cases are complex, troublesome, and sometimes traumatic. Investigators are typically faced with a variety of practical, interpersonal and ethical problems, and often find that the phenomena elude their attempts at direct observation and recording. The main evidence for many cases is based on the testimony of witnesses, whose recollections may not always be trustworthy or consistent. It can therefore be difficult to form a definite opinion on whether a poltergeist case shows clear evidence of paranormal manifestations, or whether the events may be explained by trickery or other natural causes. For each of the historic and modern poltergeist cases discussed on the following pages, I suggest a tentative 'Credibility Rating', based on the following six-point scale. While not everyone will necessarily agree with my ratings, they may provide a rough guide for those who are unfamiliar with the cases. ☆☆☆☆☆ Paranormal activity can be dismissed beyond reasonable doubt. Clear evidence of hoax, unambiguous confession, or ability to explain all phenomena by natural causes. ★☆☆☆☆ Paranormal activity is conceivable but unlikely. There are major difficulties with the evidence (e.g., lack of independent witnesses, inadequate investigation, or indications of significant hoaxing or natural explanations). ★★☆☆☆ Paranormal activity seems possible. Phenomena are observed by independent witnesses. Fair standard of investigation. Natural explanations are unlikely. Some minor trickery may be discovered. ★★★☆☆ Paranormal activity appears likely. Phenomena observed by multiple independent witnesses, and/or by recording equipment. Good standard of investigation. Minor trickery may be discovered, but does not seem to play a significant role. Natural explanations are unlikely. ★★★★☆ Paranormal activity is strongly indicated. Extensive evidence from multiple credible independent witnesses and/or by recording equipment. Case thoroughly investigated. No evidence of trickery discovered. Phenomena cannot be explained by natural causes . ★★★★★ Paranormal activity is demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt. Indisputable evidence of paranormal phenomena, with no indications of trickery. In my opinion, no cases meet these criteria.

Historical poltergeist cases

Modern poltergeist cases

Gauld, A. & Cornell, A.D. (1979). Poltergeists . London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. Healy , T. & Cropper, P. (2014). Australian Poltergeist: The Stone-Throwing Spook of Humpty Doo and Many Other Cases : Surry Hills, Australia: Xou Pty. Lecouteux, C. (2012). The Secret History of Poltergeists and Haunted Houses: From Pagan Folklore to Modern Manifestations . Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions. Maxwell-Stuart, P.G. (2012). Poltergeists: A History of Violent Ghost Phenomena . Stroud, Gloucestershire: Amberley. Owen, A.R.G. (1964). Can We Explain the Poltergeist? New York: Helix Press / Garrett Publications. Roll, W.G. (2004). The Poltergeist . New York: Paraview. Spencer, J. & Spencer, A. (1997). The Poltergeist Phenomenon: An Investigation into Psychic Disturbance . London: Headline Book Publishing. Teguis, A. & Flynn, C.P. (1983). Dealing with demons: Psychosocial dynamics of paranormal occurrences. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 23(4) , 59-75.

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Environmental crime money easy to stash in US due to loopholes, report finds

Secrecy and lax oversight mean illegal loggers and miners in Amazon can park billions in real estate and other assets

Secrecy and lax oversight have made the US a hiding place for dirty money accrued by environmental criminals in the Amazon rainforest , a report says.

Illegal loggers and miners are parking sums ranging from millions to billions of dollars in US real estate and other assets, says the report, which calls on Congress and the White House to close loopholes in financial regulations that it says are contributing to the destruction of the world’s biggest tropical forest.

“We are trying to show that the US is the easiest place to hide dirty money, which is a major problem not just in terms of national security, drug trafficking and kleptocratic corruption but also environmental crime,” said Ian Gary, the executive director of the Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency (Fact) Coalition , which produced the report.

For the first time in 2021, the US came top in the world financial secrecy index released by the Tax Justice Networks, as a result of money laundering and gaps in its financial transparency laws.

The study by Fact draws attention to the impact this has on environmental crime in the Amazon, a region of global importance due to its impact on the climate. The report lists six case studies of links between forest destruction and companies in the US.

Florida, which has strong cultural and linguistic connections to South America, was found to be a hotspot. The report cites the case of Goldex, formerly the second biggest gold exporter in Colombia , which supplied more than 45 tonnes of gold, worth $1.4bn, to two US refineries, including Republic Metals Corp (RMC) in Miami.

Colombian prosecutors later alleged that the gold was illegally mined, transferred through shell companies and ultimately used to launder money for organised crime groups. The company was hit with sanctions by the Colombia government and one of its suppliers was extradited to the US to face charges of drug trafficking and money laundering. After an investigation by the US attorney’s office, RMC agreed to tighten its internal money laundering guidelines . Goldex has since filed for bankruptcy.

A still more lucrative case linking Miami with Amazon nations was that of NTR Metals, which pleaded guilty to charges that it failed to maintain an adequate anti-money-laundering programme after revelations that it dealt with $3.6bn (£3bn) of illegal gold and fake ingots from Peru.

The problem was not isolated to Florida. In Maryland, the former Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo allegedly bought properties to hide and launder $1.2m he received in bribes from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht for a contract to build the cross-Amazon interoceanic highway and other projects. Odebrecht has admitted paying bribes and a US court has ordered funds to be sent back to Peru. Toledo denies any wrongdoing.

Other case studies linked a Nevada firm to purchases of illegal timber from the Loreto region of the Peruvian Amazon, and a Connecticut company to forest clearance for a palm oil plantation in indigenous land.

Government regulators and watchdog groups in Peru said it was common for their investigations into environmental crime to run into a dead end with shell companies in the US. “We have had cases where we can directly trace the dirty money route to US company involvement,” Daniel Linares Ruesta, the director of Peru’s financial intelligence unit, was quoted as saying.

The report identifies two principal flaws in the US regulation of financial flows from other countries: permissive rules on identification that allow the use of anonymous shell companies; and gaping holes in the anti-money-laundering framework that enable estate agents and refineries to accept payments without checking and disclosing the origin of funds.

Earlier this year, the Igarapé Institute estimated that environmental crime in the Amazon generated annual profits of between $110bn and $281bn , though it has been a relatively low priority for financial authorities in Latin America. Investigations by the Insight Crime website suggest the problem may be growing as links build between environmental crime, narco-trafficking and money-laundering networks in Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.

The Fact report urges the US to take more responsibility because it is the primary destination for illegal funds, followed by the UK and its crown dependencies such as the Cayman Islands.

Among its recommendations are for the US administration to establish anti-money-laundering obligations in the real estate market, to provide support for Amazon nations to improve financial oversight, and to implement the Corporate Transparency Act, which would establish a database of true “beneficial” owners of all companies. It also calls on the US Congress to pass the Forest Act, which would add illegal deforestation to the US money-laundering statute.

Gary said he was encouraged that the Biden administration had called out the threat posed by corruption. Now, he said, it needed to act.

“The US needs to step up,” Gary said. “Our report shows the importance of the US cleaning up its own financial secrecy house and the need to collaborate with law enforcement partners in the Amazon region to combat illegal financial flows … for the US to have such financial secrecy is a problem for the whole world.”

• Amazon rainforest
• Deforestation
• Logging and land-clearing
• Organised crime

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