Gary Schwartz
Encyclopedia
Gary E. Schwartz, PhD, is a professor of psychology
at the University of Arizona
best known for controversial experiments with mediums
.
from Harvard University
, and was a professor of psychiatry
and psychology at Yale University
as well as Director of the Yale Psychophysiology
Center and co-director of the Yale Behavioral Medicine Clinic from 1976-1988. He is the Director of The VERITAS Research Program of the Human Energy Systems Laboratory in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona.
In his early career, Schwartz published extensively on biofeedback research, and health psychology. Schwartz's major research focus for the past ten years has been in the fields of parapsychology
and consciousness-based healthcare
. The goal stated by VERITAS is to test the hypothesis that the consciousness of a person survives physical death. To this end, Schwartz has performed experiments at the University of Arizona that tested well-known mediums such as John Edward
of TV's Crossing Over and Allison DuBois
, the inspiration for the TV drama Medium
. Based on research that Schwartz has characterized as formal scientific experiments under controlled conditions as well as informal readings on himself, Schwartz concluded that DuBois could indeed contact dead people, saying, "There is no question this is not a fraud, some people really can do this, and Allison is one of them." Schwartz says his experiments with DuBois included a reading for celebrity physician and author Dr. Deepak Chopra
following the death of his father that Chopra characterized as 77% accurate.
Schwartz's methods have prompted criticism by skeptics such as University of Oregon
professor Ray Hyman
, who says they deviate from the accepted norms of scientific methodology, and criticizes Schwartz for research errors such as inappropriate statistical tests and using subjects predisposed to believe in psychic
abilities. Skeptic Robert Todd Carroll
maintains that Schwartz's evaluation of mediums is subjective and a product of wishful thinking. When skeptic James Randi
asked the University of Arizona to submit Schwartz's research data to an independent panel for evaluation as part of his $1 Million Challenge
, Schwartz declined because he believed the panel, which was picked by Randi, would be biased. Schwartz has also been accused by psychic Laurie Campbell and Allison DuBois of exploiting their publicity value.
Schwartz is the co-author of The Living Energy Universe, and is the author of The Afterlife Experiments: Breakthrough Scientific Evidence of Life After Death
and The Truth About Medium as well as authoring over 450 scientific papers and editing academic books.
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
best known for controversial experiments with mediums
Mediumship
Mediumship is described as a form of communication with spirits. It is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Voodoo and Umbanda.- Concept :...
.
Biography
Schwartz received his PhDPHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, and was a professor of psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
and psychology at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
as well as Director of the Yale Psychophysiology
Psychophysiology
Psychophysiology is the branch of psychology that is concerned with the physiological bases of psychological processes. While psychophysiology was a general broad field of research in the 1960s and 1970s, it has now become quite specialized, and has branched into subspecializations...
Center and co-director of the Yale Behavioral Medicine Clinic from 1976-1988. He is the Director of The VERITAS Research Program of the Human Energy Systems Laboratory in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona.
In his early career, Schwartz published extensively on biofeedback research, and health psychology. Schwartz's major research focus for the past ten years has been in the fields of parapsychology
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
and consciousness-based healthcare
Consciousness-based healthcare
Consciousness-Based Healthcare , an emerging field of complementary and alternative medicine, is the application of consciousness-based interventions to achieve tangible, beneficial outcomes across a wide range of health concerns including physical and emotional issues.CBH is a complementary and...
. The goal stated by VERITAS is to test the hypothesis that the consciousness of a person survives physical death. To this end, Schwartz has performed experiments at the University of Arizona that tested well-known mediums such as John Edward
John Edward
John Edward McGee, Jr. is an American television personality and professional psychic medium. He is best known for his TV shows Crossing Over with John Edward and John Edward Cross Country....
of TV's Crossing Over and Allison DuBois
Allison DuBois
Allison DuBois is an American author and medium. DuBois has controversially claimed to possess psychic abilities and use them to help U.S. law enforcement officials solve crimes, which formed the basis of the TV series Medium....
, the inspiration for the TV drama Medium
Medium (TV series)
Medium is an American television drama series that premiered on NBC on January 3, 2005, and ended on CBS on January 21, 2011. Themed on supernatural gifts, its lead character, Allison DuBois , is a medium employed as a consultant for the Phoenix, Arizona district attorney's office...
. Based on research that Schwartz has characterized as formal scientific experiments under controlled conditions as well as informal readings on himself, Schwartz concluded that DuBois could indeed contact dead people, saying, "There is no question this is not a fraud, some people really can do this, and Allison is one of them." Schwartz says his experiments with DuBois included a reading for celebrity physician and author Dr. Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra is an Indian medical doctor, public speaker, and writer on subjects such as spirituality, Ayurveda and mind-body medicine. Chopra began his career as an endocrinologist and later shifted his focus to alternative medicine. Chopra now runs his own medical center, with a focus on...
following the death of his father that Chopra characterized as 77% accurate.
Schwartz's methods have prompted criticism by skeptics such as University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
professor Ray Hyman
Ray Hyman
Ray Hyman is a Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, and a noted critic of parapsychology.-Career:...
, who says they deviate from the accepted norms of scientific methodology, and criticizes Schwartz for research errors such as inappropriate statistical tests and using subjects predisposed to believe in psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
abilities. Skeptic Robert Todd Carroll
Robert Todd Carroll
Robert Todd Carroll , Ph.D., is an American writer and academic. Carroll has written several books and skeptical essays but achieved notability by publishing the Skeptic's Dictionary online in 1994.-Early life and education:...
maintains that Schwartz's evaluation of mediums is subjective and a product of wishful thinking. When skeptic James Randi
James Randi
James Randi is a Canadian-American stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. Randi is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation...
asked the University of Arizona to submit Schwartz's research data to an independent panel for evaluation as part of his $1 Million Challenge
James Randi Educational Foundation
The James Randi Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. The JREF's mission includes educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims, and to support research into paranormal claims in controlled...
, Schwartz declined because he believed the panel, which was picked by Randi, would be biased. Schwartz has also been accused by psychic Laurie Campbell and Allison DuBois of exploiting their publicity value.
Schwartz is the co-author of The Living Energy Universe, and is the author of The Afterlife Experiments: Breakthrough Scientific Evidence of Life After Death
The Afterlife Experiments
The Afterlife Experiments is a book written by Gary Schwartz and William L...
and The Truth About Medium as well as authoring over 450 scientific papers and editing academic books.
Books
- Gary E. Schwartz and William L. Simon, "The Truth About Medium: Extraordinary Experiments with the real Allison DuBois of NBC's Medium and other Remarkable Psychics," Hampton Roads Publishing CompanyHampton Roads Publishing CompanyHampton Roads Publishing Company. founded in 1989 by Frank DeMarco and Bob Friedman, is a publisher of self-help books, and books on Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Visionary Fiction, New Thought, New Science, Nagualism and Psychic Realms....
(October 2005) ISBN 1571744592 - Paul M. Lehrer (Editor), Robert L. Woolfolk (Editor), Gary E. Schwartz "Principles and Practice of Stress Management," (The Guilford Press; 2 Sub edition, January 29, 1993) ISBN 0898627664
- Richard J. Davidson (Editor), Gary E. Schwartz (Editor), David Shapiro, "Consciousness and Self-Regulation, Advances in Research and Theory Volume 4," Plenum Press (April 30, 1986) ISBN 0306420481
- Gary E. Schwartz, William L. Simon, and Deepak ChopraDeepak ChopraDeepak Chopra is an Indian medical doctor, public speaker, and writer on subjects such as spirituality, Ayurveda and mind-body medicine. Chopra began his career as an endocrinologist and later shifted his focus to alternative medicine. Chopra now runs his own medical center, with a focus on...
(Foreword). The Afterlife ExperimentsThe Afterlife ExperimentsThe Afterlife Experiments is a book written by Gary Schwartz and William L...
(Mar 1, 2002) ISBN 074343658X - Gary E. Schwartz, Ph.D and Linda G. S. Russek, Living Energy Universe: A Fundamental Discovery that Transforms Science and Medicine, Hampton Roads Publishing Co, 1999
External links
- The VERITAS Research Program at the University of Arizona
- "How Not to Test Mediums: Critiquing the Afterlife Experiments", a critique of Gary Schwartz' research from The Skeptical InquirerSkeptical InquirerThe Skeptical Inquirer is a bimonthly American magazine published by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry with the subtitle: The magazine for science and reason....
(January 2003) - "Follow Up: How Not to Review Mediumship Research", Gary Schwartz' response to the above critique from The Skeptical Inquirer (May 2003)
- "Follow Up Reply: Hyman's Reply to Schwartz's 'How Not to Review Mediumship Research'", Ray Hyman's response to the above critique of his critique from The Skeptical Inquirer (May 2003)
- What If Gary Schwartz Is Right? by Robert Todd Carroll, at Freethinker, mukto-mona.com, a BengaliBengali languageBengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
humanistHumanismHumanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
website (March 2005) - Gary Schwartz's Subjective Evaluation of Mediums: Veritas or Wishful Thinking? by Robert Todd Carroll (April 2006)
- Gary Schwartz and Intelligent Design by Robert Todd Carroll (May 2006)