Batcheldor, Kenneth J. (1921-1988)

British psychical researcher who specialized in the study of psychokinesis, or PK (the ability to move objects by means of mental concentration). He made a great contribution to identifying the conditions under which such phenomena are most likely to occur.

Before his detailed investigations, he had been a principal clinical psychologist for a group of hospitals in Devon, United Kingdom. At a social occasion in 1964, after a guest had told ghost stories, Batcheldor suggested the group "[have] a go at tabletipping just for fun." Although there were no perceptible unusual phenomena, a sitting at a later date was marked by a loud noise. During a subsequent séance in darkness, the table rose from the floor, apparently of its own volition. Batcheldor was sufficiently intrigued to continue experimental sittings in an attempt to explain the phenomenon. In 1976 he took early retirement and spent more time in the systematic study of what has become known as "macro-PK." He was assisted by fellow researcher Coin Brooked-Smith and other friends. He published some valuable papers on the subject, supported by the papers of Coin Brooked-Smith.

Batcheldor was fully aware of the difference between unconscious muscular activity and paranormal movement of a table, and of the part played by belief and a nonskeptical state of mind in facilitating the production of genuine phenomena. He stated:

"There's something about table-tipping that enables a group of ordinary people to succeed in generating PK without even trying, provided they are reasonably open-minded. It is this—in most cases the table will start to move due to unconscious muscular activity. This can give an amazing illusion that the table is moving of its own accord as if animated by some mysterious force. You get the impression you are already succeeding in generating paranormal movements. This has precisely the same impact on you as real success would have—it sweeps your doubts aside and produces total faith."

Such faith, he believed, was an essential factor in producing general PK effects. Other researchers have from time to time also discovered that rigid objectivity and skepticism are barriers to producing PK phenomena. The problems of possible fraud and repeatability under controlled conditions remain difficult for researchers.

According to Batcheldor, in a letter to Guy Lyon Playfair in 1966, "It is as if the universe allows psi to occur, now and then, quite easily and quickly provided the circumstances are such that it is accidental and not under conscious control. Perhaps if things were otherwise, reality would be too unstable." Playfair took part in a number of Batcheldor's investigations, and in an obituary for his friend (Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, vol. 55, July 1988) states, "It could even be argued that PK takes place only under conditions that make its verification impossible…. However, some of Ken's evidence is very compelling, especially the videotaped episodes in which the table can be seen moving in ways that do not appear normal…."

Batcheldor died March 6, 1988. His paper "Notes on the Elusiveness Problem in Relation to a Radical View of Paranormality" (compiled, edited, and with a preface by Patrick V. Giesler) was published posthumously in the Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research. Batcheldor did much to encourage the production and investigation of PK phenomena among various groups and identified the conditions under which such phenomena could more readily occur.

Sources:

Batcheldor, Kenneth. "Contributions to the Theory of PK Induction from Sitter-Group Work." Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research 78 (1984).

——. "Notes on the Elusiveness Problem in Relation to a Radical View of Paranormality." Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research 88 (April 1994).

——. "Report on a Case of Table-Levitation and Associated Phenomena." Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 43 (1966).

Batcheldor, Kenneth, and D. W. Hunt. "Some Experiments in Psychokinesis." Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 43 (1966).

Berger, Arthur S., and Joyce Berger. The Encyclopedia of Parapsychology and Psychical Research. New York: Paragon House, 1991.

Brooked-Smith, Coin. "Data-tape Recorded Experimental PK Phenomena." Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 47 (1973).