Unscientific Survey: Ghosts
Sparked by Jon Cohen’s article about the spirits in his house, and in anticipation of the upcoming Halloween season, the Swarthmorean’s latest Unscientific Survey probed your beliefs about ghosts.
The results show that, on this topic at least, Swarthmoreans are completely aligned with their fellow Americans. A 2019 YouGov poll found 45% of Americans believed in ghosts; our survey came up with exactly the same number. (To make it clear we weren’t only talking about Casper types in white sheets, we defined ghosts as “people who have died” who “maintain a tangible presence on earth.”)
An additional 14% said they weren’t sure but wouldn’t rule ghosts out. 41% were definite non-believers.
The YouGov poll didn’t ask about people’s own experiences, but we did. 43% of you reported having personally encountered a ghost. 10% said you might have but weren’t completely sure. Of these groups, 31% of you said the encounter happened in your current home. Which suggests that Jon Cohen isn’t the only Swarthmorean to share his house with previous occupants who have departed, in more than one sense.
Here are some of your comments:
“Encountered more than one, both at home and out of the house.”
“When I was a kid, we rented a vacation home with family friends and quickly figured out we were not alone. The spirits were active and aggressive, making for a memorable week. We later learned the house is well known for being haunted.” —Tayler Moots
“I was reading ‘World’s Fair’ by E.L. Doctorow one night and felt he was standing behind me.”
“My parents’ house in central PA has a ghost named Godfrey. He’s friendly, in the sense that he doesn’t scare us. When I was a little girl, I would have nightmares. All the lights in my bedroom would turn on and wake me up. Godfrey was keeping me from being scared!” —Lydia Timmins
“When you’re dead, you’re dead.” —Jack Scott
“She, herself, said she heard the sound of chains. Many years ago.” —Ann B. Hubben
“My mother showed up in our home on her birthday a year after her death.”
“I spent most of my childhood with a ghost who I could not see, and then two children who lived in our Swarthmore house after we moved did see him. He perfectly fit the description of a previous owner who had died there.”
“Belief in ghosts and the supernatural is irrational and unscientific.” —Ingrid Rosenback
“Saw my wife’s deceased grandmother at her old house, human form like looking through ripples in the air. Seemed like she was watering house plants. Was early afternoon and a sunny day.”
“Of course, it might have also been an earthquake that I could not feel that made those crystals swing.”
