Rupert Sheldrake, a parapsychology researcher, proposed in 1994 a list of Seven Experiments That Could Change The World. His beliefs were that human beings possessed a type of sixth sense and that ordinary people could conduct their own research with a do-it yourself type guide to assist them. His basic argument is that the mind does not just exist inside and within the brain, but that it is stretched outside the human body Sheldrake 2002). In this essay, I will focus primarily on one of Sheldrake's seven phenomena: psychic staring. Through an examination of Sheldrake's theory, and opposing arguments made by Baker, Marks and Colwell, with included researched facts from both sides, there is no question that many people do commonly experience odd and difficult to explain sensations however there is a lack of evidence to support that these experiences prove a human sixth sense.
Far from paranormal, experiences such as a prickly feeling on the back of our neck or being startled by answering the phone to hear a loved one that we were just thinking about, are rooted in our biology. Rupert Sheldrake believed that scientific exploration of these common experiences could lead to a new understanding of human and animal minds therefore he is arguing for a new concept of the mind - one not bounded by the brain, but operating through fields of influence. He suggests the term "morphic fields" as a way to describe a sixth sense that organize the development and behavior of not just human beings but also animals, plants, social groups, and mental activities. For example, he proposes that telepathy depends on social bonds, adding that the ability seems to be stronger in animals particularly in dogs than in most people (Sheldrake 2002). I tend to agree with this concept as it illustrates the reality of how an individual's willingness to accept their sixth sense has a direct impact on the possible research.
