What is a poltergeist?

Answer 1

The poltergeist phenomena seem to have their origins in psychokinesis (PK) which is the apparent ability to affect the environment with the mind. It is unclear how this manifests. Over forty years of parapsychological research into poltergeists suggests that they are predominantly produced by the living, not the dead.

Poltergeist phenomena is quite real and affects physical objects. In this sense it is different from an apparitional experience, which usually simply involves seeing, hearing or otherwise sensing someone or something unexpected in an unusual manner.

Apparitional experiences can be accompanied by the impression that movement has occurred, such as a door opening. But on subsequent investigation no factual evidence can be found that the movement actually happened. In contrast, the poltergeist phenomena usually leaves clear evidence behind.

Poltergeist agents are living people who seem to be able to function locally or at a distance either spontaneously or intentionally. Spontaneous agents are unaware they are producing PK effects, while intentional agents are aware of what they are doing.

It is possible that a person can be a poltergeist (PK) agent and target themselves.

Studies on poltergeist agents suggest they often live in turmoil. They often have psychological and physical problems and it is not uncommon to find they live in toxic family environments. The objects targeted by the poltergeist agent often make sense if their psychoses are understood.

The phenomena can be limited or removed if the agent's belief systems can be altered. This is the likely reason that procedrues like prayer, banishements and exorcisms work on occasion. If the poltergeist agent is unaware of these activities though, it is likely they will fail. Generally an improvement in the conditions which bring on the phenomena are the best way to reduce or eliminate them. Each must be taken on a case by case basis.

Alternative Answer:

Many people believe the poltergeist is an invisible, mischievous ghost, but really its YOU. A poltergeist is the vibration of a stressed human ( mostly teenagers ). If their dealing with some problem, or just depressed and stressed, the emotion can become so powerful, that it becomes a vibration, and that vibration moves things on its own. At first I thought my house was haunted, but when I learned this, I laughed, I was the haunt of my own home!

Answer 2

to my knowledge, a poltergeist is a vengeful ghost who seeks revenge for his/her death. they often hurt people as part of their revenge

yes and, (im edditing this wonderfull answer.) they are REAL they seek revenge, or sometimes fun. it can be as little as a radio interfearence noise, to feelings of being watched, to foot steps when no ones there. to blood on walls, to moving objects, to PULLING HAIR, TO FLYING KNIVES, TO VOICES, CRYING, WHISPERING, TO FOG, TO CLOSING AND OPENING DOORS BY THEMSELVES to, am i scaring you?

While the above is the common understanding regarding poltergeists, there is a much more mundane albeit paranormal explanation. Poltergeists have been researched for over 40 years. It has been found they are attributable to living people with unusual abilities to influence their physical environments. These people may affect their environments only in the immediate vicinity or at some distances. They may do so spontaneously or intentionally. These people are called "PK agents". Spontaneous PK agents are often disposed to do these things for psychological reasons. It is sometimes possible to discover why they are targeting specific objects in a location by understanding their mental makeup. While it is not impossible that the deceased might be involved with poltergeist phenomena, there is no need to believe this, given the known existence of PK agents. This phenomena has been studied in laboratories in controlled conditions. This is NOT metal bending! And those studies have been documented in peer-reviewed, scientific journals such as the Journal of Parapsychology. One well-known investigator was the late Dr. William G. Roll.

Answer 3

I have a word origins book that states "polter" is from an Old German word meaning chicken. Back in the old farm days the chickens would hunt for bugs underneath the house. When they made knocking noises the children would scream "geist, geist," and the grandmother would laugh and say "polter geist" - chicken ghost. I tried to prove this by using the internet, but wasn't able.