next »

[chris_sgprs]

OK, for some reason I've gotten slammed with emails this evening (which I enjoy!) asking about The Singapore Theory. First I've gotta say that I don't know how so many people are aware of this theory... because it's pretty obscure and is not widely used, at least not to my knowledge. I do have some friends that are members of paranormal groups that have used it with fairly successful results. I've heard it called the Singapore Theory only once before. Most of the time, it's referred to as the Theory of Familiarization or simply Paranormal Stimuli.

In essence, the theory is really basic. The method involves trying to recreate the environment, or a part of the environment, of a particuliar era during an investigation in an attempt to stimulate paranormal activity. The theory, in part, is based on familiarization, believing that if spirits occupying the location recognize the environment or something positive within it, they will become active and possibly show themselves in some form. The ultimate desire is for this theory to be so effective and stimulating that the end result is an apparition (but that of course is the "Holy Grail" of paranormal investigation anyway, right?). But that doesn't mean it's always a positive ending.

The method is usually put into action by playing music of different eras, or one exact era if you're focusing more on an individual situation. For example, if you're in a haunted ballroom from the early 1900's, you might play music from that era. If you're in a haunted hotel or saloon in Nevada, then the music of choice would most likely be "cowboy-type" music.

Another popular method of action would be to recreate the environment visually. This is most often seen in 19th century victorian styles homes that have been turned into an Inn or a Bed N Breakfast, for example. It is sometimes done unintentionally by owners attempting to restore a building to it's original state, complete with antique furniture and decorations from that era. A seldom used method is to play movies from an era.

Different stimuli can yield very different results, according to the theory. If you're in a location that is very old, perhaps more than 100 years, try music or movies from different eras and see if any particuliar one is more popular than the other.

I personally have never seen active results from using the Singapore Theory. We were working with another group in southeast Georgia and that group fired up the theory, playing music from the early 1920's (if memory serves me). There was some activity after a few minutes or so... BUT, the activity we witnessed were signs of a Residual Haunting, NOT an active one. This group told me that everytime they used the method and witnessed phenomena, residual activity was the result.

This leads me to my own theory:
While I do believe the Singapore Theory is well-founded and based on sound principles, I do not believe that it alone can stimulate "ACTIVE" paranormal phenomena. I think that it is more in-tune with stimulating residual-type hauntings. My belief is based on the theory of the residual haunting itself. Certain actions can "wake" residual hauntings, such as voices, position of people, funrniture and objects, strong emotions, fear, trauma and.... music and movies. The Singapore Theory, to me, falls into the catagory of a stimulant for a residual haunting.


This is a relatively new method for me, so as I gather more information I will post updates here and in the website.
Hope this answers some of your questions.  If you have any thoughts on this topic, please post a response.

Happy Hunting!
Chris

[Manzana]

I went searching for information on this simply because Barry Fitzgerald on Ghost Hunters International talked a little about this theory during last night's (07/09/08) episode. It's what made me curious to search for it, couldn't find anything but was redirected here by a Yahoo answers post. So that is why all of a sudden you are being bombarded.. haha... and now I am a new member of the board!

[jrcoe]

What's the origin of the title "Singapore" Theory?

[chris_sgprs]

Hey there, Manzana... welcome to the board! We're trying really hard to grow and trying to get as much good info out there as possible... and I really appreciate you joining up!

Yeah, I recorded the GHI episode last night on my DVR and watched it today. So yep, that would explain why the rush of emails. But hey, I love getting them .

I saw Barry using it, which was in almost the exact manner I witnessed another group use it (and that 1800's carnival-type music Barry played was a bit eerie to me). That's the first time I've seen any paranormal group on TV use the method. I think that a lot of paranormal investigators believe that they can stimulate "residual" activity rather than active/intelligent activity, which is the direction I lean for the most part.

Thanks again for joining... and I hope we'll be hearing more from you! I'll also do more research on the theory and post what I find. I have to admit that it's rather new to me, so I'm a little limited on what I know right now. But I'll find out more for you guys!

Happy Hunting!
Chris

I went searching for information on this simply because Barry Fitzgerald on Ghost Hunters International talked a little about this theory during last night's (07/09/08) episode. It's what made me curious to search for it, couldn't find anything but was redirected here by a Yahoo answers post. So that is why all of a sudden you are being bombarded.. haha... and now I am a new member of the board!

[adriana-SGPRS Member]

I wanted to add something to Chris's post. I spoke to a few friends I've made in the paranormal community and have been told that the name "Singapore Theory" supposedly originated from a paranormal group or parapsychologist in Singapore that discovered the theory, thus the name "Singapore Theory". I think the truth is: It may simply be something "made-up". I  think Barry Fitzgerald gave it that name... because we have never heard of the theory by that name. although I personally know the method very well. Usually it's just called the "Familiarization Method", because it is indeed based on the theory of familiarization, which is basically the process of making something (in this case the environment) familiar to someone (in a paranormal sense, ghosts).

There are different names for same methods used in paranormal investigations, and the "Singapore Theory" could very well be one of those. Like I said, I don't know how much truth lies in what I was told about the origin of the name. Seems that there would be at least some connection between the theory and the country. Maybe its purely coincidental. Who knows?

We'll delve more into this and find more answers for you guys.

Adriana

[kristian]

 

I writing concerning the Singapore Theory. I believe the correct term is "Time Slip". I have on many nights been very impressed with the "Time Slip" method. Also, the more i chat with the spirit, the more i get an understanding of what they like or dislike. I have also dressed up which has yielded even better results. At present, i am chatting to a male called Paul. He was the original owner of my house which dates back to the 1800's. He is very pedantic about which room i choose to communicate with him in.

So, i choose to communicate with him in the dinning room which has all the original fittings and fixtures from the time he and his family lived there. I think the reason i left that room as it was to start with because it looked so cool!! However, over time i realised that my unconscious told me too leave it alone. And the more i chatted to people in that room the more i became aware of the value and importance to maintain history if you want to chat with people.

Anyway, that my two cents worth for now.

Thank you.

Kristian