Last update:October 28, 2024, 2:50 p.m. IST

Events such as flickering lights and unusual noises have led people to believe in the existence of ghosts.

An expert recently shared some insights on this topic.

There are hundreds of theories about ghosts. Some people believe it, others don’t. Some theories claim that ghosts actually exist, while others claim that they are mere human imaginations. Whatever the reality, belief in ghosts depends largely on personal opinions, but let’s look at what science has to say about it. An expert recently shared some insights on this topic, which might surprise you. Barry Markovsky, professor of sociology at the University of South Carolina, provided an in-depth answer to this question. He mentioned that many people believe in ghosts, often due to some strange experience they have had in life. Events such as flickering lights, unusual noises, etc. led people to believe in the existence of ghosts. “Ghosts are almost always seen in ambiguous circumstances, such as in poor lighting, or when we have just woken up or during sleep when our senses are not at peak function,” the researcher said.

He further explained that those who experienced such things probably expected it. When people visit haunted houses, they visit the place expecting there to be ghosts, which is why they experience things that are often referred to as ghostly.

In 2014, a team of researchers from the Netherlands also conducted research to study the existence of paranormal activities. The study also mentions that the chances of experiencing such incidents increase when people expect them. The team conducted experiments on five people to confirm this. Some of them were religious, while others had no religious beliefs but believed in supernatural things.

There are several perceptions regarding ghosts among people. People often draw conclusions about such incidents and things after watching TV shows and movies. Researchers also mentioned that most people experience ghost-related incidents due to factors such as dim lighting, thoughts, fear, or lack of sleep. Professor Markovsky mentioned that ghosts do not exist and it is simply a perception of a person’s mind depending on the situation and context of the place.