Psychometry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For information about the psychology discipline that deals with the measurement and assessment of cognitive abilities and traits, such as intelligence and personality, please see psychometrics.

For information about the measurement of the heat and water vapor properties of air, please see psychrometrics.

In parapsychology, psychometry is an alleged psi (or psychic) ability in which the user is able to relate details about the past condition of an object or area, usually by being in close contact with it. The user could allegedly, for example, give police precise details about a murder or other violent crime if they were at the crime scene or were holding the weapon used. Psychometry is a type of retrocognition. Psychometry, like all other paranormal abilities, is unconfirmed and hotly debated in most circles.

This term refers to bursts of energy and/or memories, both negative and positive, which have left an “imprint” upon an object or place. For instance, a house where a traumatic experience has happened, such as a murder or suicide, may feel distinctly chilled or “bad”; while a favorite childhood toy or play area may feel light or “good”. A place or thing may be so charged with emotions and memories that it may even seem haunted. It might also be considered a form of precognition in reverse accomplished by touching a specific object.

[edit] Depictions of psychometry in popular culture

Psychometry has been depicted as a plot device in several works of popular fiction:

• Actor Jeff Goldblum portrays a psychometrist in the 1988 comedy movie Vibes.
• Bruce Willis's character in the M. Night Shyamalan film Unbreakable experiences a similar form of psychometry.
• A similar power is bestowed upon Johnny Smith, the main character in the Stephen King novel/movie/TV series The Dead Zone, who combines this talent with clairvoyance, and can see a person's past or future by touching them.
• In the Wild Cards series, one Ace named Cameo is able to recreate the personalities of the dead by touching their belongings.
• Kaos, a character in the manga Gunnm (Battle Angel Alita in the US), has a form of psychometry that allows him to absorb not only memories but knowledge and skills as well. If he were to touch an old, authentic katana, he would become a master swordsman. Likewise if he were to touch a used piano, he could play it as well as its former user. His main problem is that many of his memories and feelings are not his own, and he described himself once as a "hollow man".
• In the computer game Myst IV: Revelation the player character, the Stranger, finds an amulet which endows him with a degree of psychometric ability, so that at certain points in the game he/she can see or hear events that have happened in the past (providing backstory or clues to the game's puzzles).
• The fictional superheroes Longshot and X-Man from the X-Men stories published by Marvel Comics have, among their super-powers, the power of psychometry. Each is able to touch any object and learn its history.
• In the quintet, Children of the Red King, Gabriel is endowed with psychometery much to his detriment, as the visions are mostly disturbing since his penurious mother only has enough to allow one set of new clothes for their entire large family.
• During the Ginyu saga of Dragon Ball Z, Son Goku uses psychometry that he developed during intense training in 100 times earth's gravity to read Kuririn's mind and assess his friends current situation on the Planet Namek. Interestingly, this is the only time he uses this ability.
• Eiji Asuma in manga Psychometer, uses this ability to help Ryoko Shima, an expert profiler, solve crime.
• Miho Karasuma, from the anime Witch Hunter Robin, uses psychometry to help solve supernatural crimes and track rogue witches.
• Left Hand, from the popular books and movies Vampire Hunter D, has been shown to use psychometry to help D find out about battles that had just occurred in the area or where a vampire he may be tracking went to.
• Both the movie and comic book versions of Abe Sapien from Hellboy possess psychometric powers.
• In the movie The Crow the hero Eric Draven has the ability to touch a person or an object and certain information about the person or object is revealed to Eric via glimpses or flashbacks.
• In the manga version of Sailor Moon, Chiba Mamoru is able to use psychometry to determine the nature and origin of objects.
• In the Trinity (role-playing game), ISRAn psions use a Clairsentience mode called psychometry.
• In the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Jedi Master Quinlan Vos specializes in this ability. He can also use psychomentry on people
• Phoebe Halliwell of the TV series Charmed possesses a form of psychometry as one of her innate powers.