Extrasensory: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The term comes from the Latin 'extra' meaning 'beyond' and 'sensus' meaning 'senses', creating a phrase that means beyond normal senses.
• It was popularized in the early 20th century, especially in discussions about psychic phenomena.
• The concept has roots in spiritual and mystical traditions throughout history.

Science

• Research in psychology questions the validity of extrasensory perception (ESP), leading to numerous experiments that often yield inconclusive results.
• Some scientists propose that certain animals may have capabilities that could be described as 'extrasensory' due to their heightened senses, like pigeons navigating long distances.
• In parapsychology, areas like telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition explore the possibilities of sensing information without the typical five senses.

Pop Culture

• Films and books frequently explore extrasensory abilities, with characters like psychics or superheroes often showcasing these powers.
• The 1977 film 'The Psychic' and its later adaptations portrayed a protagonist with extrasensory abilities solving crimes.
• Television shows like 'The Mentalist' and 'Psych' humorously and dramatically engage with the notion of extrasensory skill.

Psychology

• The study of extrasensory perception raises questions about cognitive processes and belief systems in how humans perceive reality.
• Cognitive biases such as the 'confirmation bias' often lead individuals to find meanings in events that may feel extrasensory but are actually coincidental.
• Experiments in psychology aim to differentiate between actual ESP and learned intuition, often resulting in mixed reports.

Literature

• Extrasensory themes feature prominently in works of fiction, exploring the boundaries of human experience and reality.
• Authors like Edgar Allan Poe and H.G. Wells incorporated elements of the supernatural and extrasensory phenomena into their storytelling.
• The genre of speculative fiction often discusses the implications of humans developing or possessing extrasensory abilities.

Ranking #35,522, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

• ...
• 35519 grana
• 35520 reappoint
• 35521 chickweed
• 35522 extrasensory
• 35523 recondition
• 35524 macaw
• 35525 skimp
• ...