Bias in the Dark: How Our Minds Shape Paranormal Investigations

Join Eric Extreme on Mount Washington Valley SPIRIT's podcast Paranormal Declassified: The SPIRIT Files as he explores the critical topic of cognitive bias in paranormal investigations. This episode dives into how our minds can skew perceptions, leading to misinterpreted data and inaccurate conclusions. Eric distinguishes between ghost hunting and paranormal investigation, highlighting how biases manifest differently in each approach. Learn about specific biases like confirmation bias, expectation bias, and pareidolia, and discover practical strategies to minimize their impact. The episode emphasizes the importance of pre-investigation assessments, objective data analysis, and a commitment to scientific principles to ensure reliable and credible investigations. Discover how to protect clients, maintain team credibility, and advance the understanding of unexplained phenomena through a science-based approach. Tune in to learn how to seek the light of reason and stay skeptical in the pursuit of the truth. A nearly identical transcript of this episode may be found at:  https://www.mwvspirit.com/blog/2025/10/24/biases-in-paranormal-investigations/ As a paranormal investigator, Eric Extreme has decades of experience. He explores the history of the paranormal from around the world. He also discusses the scientific study of perceived paranormal phenomena. His approach is to identify natural causes first before considering any paranormal explanations. With years of research and fieldwork behind him, he offers insights into how the world views the paranormal and how these phenomena can be studied objectively, based on evidence. The goal is to help listeners understand how to approach paranormal investigations focused on science, distinguishing between what can be explained and what cannot. As he always says, "Science comes before the spooky." Mount Washington Valley SPIRIT (Scientific Paranormal Investigations, Research, and Interpretation Team) Book: https://www.ApparitionOfThePast.com Homepage: https://www.MWVSpirit.com Podcast: https://mwvspirit.podbean.com Blog: https://www.MWVSpirit.com/blog Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mwvspirit.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MWVSpirit Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/203797804@N05/ Gab: https://gab.com/mwvspirit IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16150782 Imgur: https://imgur.com/user/mwvspirit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MWVSpirit Iviv: https://iviv.hu/people/a51e3690a278013e55bd723c915ba918 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mwvspirit LiveJournal: https://mwvspirit.livejournal.com/ Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@mwvspirit Mewe: https://mewe.com/mountwashington_/posts Minds: https://www.minds.com/mwvspirit/ Mov.im: https://mov.im/contact/mwvspirit%40movim.eu OC Social: https://ocsocialnetwork.com/id/8e58beaa-c09e-4b1e-9c42-65015ef9b890 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mwvspirit/ Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Mount-Washington-Valley-SPIRIT Snapchat: https://snapchat.com/t/uN1wtb9Z Space Hey: https://spacehey.com/mwvspirit Substack: https://substack.com/@mountwashingtonvalleyspirit Threads: https://www.threads.com/@mwvspirit TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mwvspirit Tumblr: https://mountwashingtonvalleyspirit.tumblr.com X: https://x.com/mwvspirit YikTak: https://app.yikyak.com/u/mwvspirit_paranormal_team YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mwvspirit