Coverage of Parapsychology in Introductory Psychology Textbooks

Abstract

A sample of 64 introductory psychology textbooks published between 1980 and 1989 were reviewed for the amount and type of coverage of parapsychology. Approximately two thirds of the textbooks discussed the topic, but most of the coverage was cursory and judged not to represent work conducted by parapsychologists during the past 10 to 15 years. Various errors in presentation appeared to result from an overreliance on secondary sources. Two general attitudes pervaded most authors' summary statements on the subject—skepticism about the existence of ESP and open-mindedness—with the hope that future research will resolve the question.