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A haunting is a recurring presence of a ghost, demon, or similar supernatural being at a specific place. Old houses, hotels, restaurants, pubs, jails, prisons, cemeteries, and graveyards are the most common haunted places. The accounts of these hauntings are often referred to as ghostlore.

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Types of Hauntings 2.1 Intelligent 2.2 Residual 2.3 Benevolent 2.4 Malevolent 2.5 Benign 3 Non-fiction 3.1 Books 3.2 Movies 3.3 TV 4 Fiction 4.1 Movies 4.2 TV 5 Related Terms 6 See Also 7 References

Introduction

Belief in hauntings and ghosts spans the world geographically and is recorded throughout history in a culture's legends and ghost stories. Additionally, anthropological evidence indicates it was common in prehistoric societies.

Hauntings typically involve the appearance of a ghost (or ghosts), although indirect evidence (such as sounds, smells, EVP, and so on) may also be considered a haunting.

People who live in a haunted house may find it unpleasant, or even threatening. In such cases, an exorcism may be performed. A special kind of non-clergy parapsychologist may also be employed. These people are commonly called ghostbusters (after the movie of the same name), although some find that term too confrontational.

Types of Hauntings

There are several different types of hauntings.

Intelligent

An intelligent haunting may be by a ghost or a demon. With an intelligent haunting the entity is aware of its surroundings, including living people who may be present. This entity may be either benevolent, benign, or malevolent. A haunting by a demon would always be considered malevolent.

Residual

A residual haunting is where the entity does not seem to be cognizant of any living beings and performs the same repetitive act. It often is the reenactment of a tragic event, although it may sometimes be a very mundane act that was repeated often in life. It is generally not considered an actual ghost but some form of energy that remains in a particular location.

Benevolent

A benevolent haunting is by a ghost that seeks to help or protect the living, sometimes from an evil spirit.

Malevolent

A malevolent haunting is by a ghost or demon that seeks to inflict harm on the living.

Benign

A benign haunting is by an entity that is either unconcerned about the living or unaware of their presence. This type may either be an intelligent or residual haunting.

Non-fiction

Books

• Weird Hauntings by Joanne Austin, Mark Moran (Foreword), Mark Sceurman (Foreword). (2006). ISBN 978-1402742262

Movies

• The Amityville Horror
• The Haunting (1963)

TV

Several paranormal tv series have focused on hauntings.

• A Haunting
• Beyond
• Celebrity Paranormal Project
• Ghost Hunters

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Fiction

Many Sci Fi works have had a "haunted house" as the main focus.

Movies

• Stephen King's Rose Red (2002 Miniseries)
• The Haunting (1963 film)
• The Haunting (1999 film)
• The Haunted Mansion (2003)
• The Haunting of Harrington House (1981)
• The Haunting of Seacliff Inn (1994)
• The Shining (Movie) (1980)

TV

• The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

Related Terms

• A poltergeist is believed to be tied to a person rather than a location, and may be a subconscious manifestation from that person. If the person moves to another location, the poltergeist activity may continue.

• Psychometry is a psychic ability to gain information about an object by touching it. While this could be termed "haunted," that is not the typical usage.

See Also

• Ghost
• Ghost tour
• Halloween
• Haunted Los Angeles
• Legend
• Paranormal guides
• Quest Magazine
• Spirit
• Urban legend
• Vanishing hitchhiker

References

• Ghosts, Hauntings and Legends by Hal Siemer, Quest Magazine