Paranormal Glossary

Anomaly

An observation or result that differs from what is expected or readily explained. An anomaly is not automatically paranormal.

Apparition

A reported visual experience in which a person, figure, or form is perceived despite no ordinary person being identified as the source.

Baseline

A record of normal environmental or observational conditions used for comparison during an investigation.

Chain of Custody

Documentation of how evidence or media was collected, handled, stored, copied, reviewed, and transferred. The level of formality can vary by context.

Contamination

Any outside influence that can compromise the interpretation of evidence, such as investigator voices, nearby electronics, reflections, traffic, or file editing.

Debunking

Testing a paranormal interpretation against ordinary explanations. In VESPER’s approach, finding a conventional cause is useful information, not a failed investigation.

EMF

Electromagnetic field. EMF meters measure electromagnetic energy within the instrument’s designed range; they do not scientifically establish the presence of spirits.

EVP

Electronic Voice Phenomenon. A term used in paranormal investigation for voice-like sounds discovered on recordings that were not clearly heard or identified at the time. The term describes the claimed phenomenon, not its cause.

Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) Grading Scale

Some paranormal investigators use an informal A–C scale to describe how clearly an EVP can be heard. The system is not a scientific standard, and classifications can vary between investigators.

Class A: A strong, distinct recording that can usually be heard and understood easily without headphones, amplification, or a written prompt.

Class B: An audible recording that is less distinct. Headphones or light audio enhancement may help, and listeners may disagree about the exact words being spoken.

Class C: A very faint or heavily obscured recording that is difficult to understand and highly open to interpretation. Background noise, static, and auditory pattern recognition can make this category especially subjective.

Full-Spectrum Photography

Imaging that records a broader range of wavelengths than ordinary visible-light photography, depending on the camera and modifications used. Unusual images still require artifact and contamination review.

Intelligent Haunting

A paranormal-investigation term for reported activity interpreted as responsive or interactive. The label is descriptive within the field and does not establish a scientifically verified mechanism.

ITC

Instrumental Transcommunication. A broad term for attempts to obtain purported communication through electronic devices or media.

Matrixing / Pareidolia

The tendency to perceive meaningful patterns—such as faces or voices—in ambiguous sensory information. Pareidolia is a well-established perceptual phenomenon.

Poltergeist

Traditionally, a term for reports involving recurrent physical disturbances such as knocks, movement, or object displacement. Interpretations vary widely.

Provocation

An investigative tactic intended to elicit a response through challenge, confrontation, or emotionally charged statements. VESPER does not treat unnecessary provocation as a default method.

Residual Haunting

A paranormal theory proposing that an event or person may leave a non-interactive 'recording' that repeats under certain conditions. This is a theory within paranormal culture, not an established scientific mechanism.

REM Pod

A commercially available device often used in paranormal investigations that responds to changes near its antenna/electromagnetic field. A response does not by itself identify the cause.

Shadow Figure

A reported dark, human-like shape or form perceived visually. The term describes the appearance of the report rather than a known entity type.

Spirit Box

A device or radio-scanning method used by some investigators in attempts to obtain voice-like responses. Radio fragments, expectation, and interpretation are important considerations.

Trigger Object

An item intentionally placed or introduced during an investigation in an attempt to encourage interaction or detect movement.

Unexplained

A result for which a satisfactory cause has not been identified with the available information. 'Unexplained' does not mean 'paranormal.'