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  • Ghost hunting is a leisure activity for amateur researchers. The fascination with the supernatural is a driving force behind them using technical equipment to visit allegedly haunted buildings or ruins at weekends and carry out so-called “paranormal investigations.” The data collected with various measuring devices is examined for anomalies that are not compatible with conventional explanations and compared with subjective perceptions. This article consists of two parts. The first part provides a brief overview of the history of haunting investigations. Furthermore, some social and cultural studies on the current form of ghost hunting as it appears in the 21st century in the USA, Great Britain and Germany are presented. In the second part, co-author Sonja Nowara, an active ghosthunter, offers an insight into the activities of ghosthunters as well as observations of the scene from the perspective of a well-informed insider, taking into account more recent developments such as the increasing commercialization of some parts of the scene.

  • We conducted two online surveys with German ghost hunting groups (GHGs) and individual ghost hunters. The first questionnaire targeted entire teams, the second individual members. Our goals were (1) to understand the current GHG scene in Germany—their composition, investigation approaches, and exceptional experiences (ExEs)—and (2) to gain insight into the people engaged in this time- and resource intensive hobby. We developed two questionnaires and included two established scales in the individual version to assess exceptional experiences (Fragebogen zur Phänomenologie außergewöhnlicher Erfahrungen [Questionnaire on the Phenomenology of Exceptional Experiences, PExE II]) and paranormal beliefs (Belief in the Supernatural Scale [BitSS]). We received twenty-one team responses and thirty-nine from individuals. Results from study 1 showed that GHGs exhibited similarities in site selection, investigative methods, use of technical equipment, and types of recorded anomalies. Social media now largely replaces traditional websites and local TV features. However, teams differ in documentation practices and how they handle collected data. Group sizes, founding dates, and annual investigation frequency vary widely. Study 2 found that ghost hunters reported more ExEs than student samples and hold stronger paranormal beliefs (BitSS). Surprisingly, 85% believe in a link between paranormal phenomena and the deceased, while 30% identify as atheists or agnostics—suggesting belief in spirits of the deceased is not necessarily tied to belief in God. For ghost hunters, ExEs are typically not distressing but inspire curiosity and further pursuit. Nearly two-thirds stated that prior ExEs were key motivators for taking up ghost hunting. In addition to the entertainment aspect, the possibility of ‘real’ contact with the supernatural plays an important role for many ghost hunters, something that cannot be found in media offerings on this topic. The motivation of ghost hunters ranges from scientific interest to the desire to confirm or question their own beliefs.

Last update from database: 24.03.26, 07:13 (UTC)

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