Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 11, 2026

Kenneth Batcheldor

Kenneth James Batcheldor was a British clinical psychologist whose scientific experiments advanced the study of paranormal phenomena, particularly psychokinesis, building on the work of Michael Faraday to investigate unconscious muscular action as an explanation for table-turning. Batcheldor investigated the mental states that were conducive or inhibitory to the effect, attempting to create a repeatable process by which anyone might produce it. Amongst other techniques, he pioneered the experimental use of infrared video recording to observe the actions of subjects in the dark.

Last revised
Jul 11, 2026
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Kenneth Batcheldor
Born
Kenneth James Batcheldor

(1921-03-21)21 March 1921
Watford, England
Died9 March 1988(1988-03-09) (aged 66)
Exeter, England
Alma materUniversity College London (UCL)
Known forParapsychology, Psychokinesis
Scientific career
FieldsPsychology

Kenneth James Batcheldor (27 September 1921 – 9 March 1988) was a British clinical psychologist whose scientific experiments advanced the study of paranormal phenomena, particularly psychokinesis, building on the work of Michael Faraday to investigate unconscious muscular action as an explanation for table-turning.1 Batcheldor investigated the mental states that were conducive or inhibitory to the effect, attempting to create a repeatable process by which anyone might produce it.2 Amongst other techniques, he pioneered the experimental use of infrared video recording to observe the actions of subjects in the dark.

References

References

  1. Faraday, M. (1853). "Experimental Investigation of Table-Moving". Journal of the Franklin Institute. 56 (5): 328–33. doi:10.1016/S0016-0032(38)92173-8. PMC 10444352.
  2. Batcheldor, K.J. (1965–66). "Report on a Case of Table Levitation and Associated Phenomena". Journal of the Society for Psychical Research. 43: 339–56.
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