Joseph Banks Rhine ( September 29 , 1895 -- February 20 , 1980 ) , usually known as J. B. Rhine , was an American botanist who founded scientific research in parapsychology as a branch of psychology , founding the parapsychology lab at Duke University , the `` Journal of Parapsychology '' , the Foundation for Research on the Nature of Man , and the Parapsychological Association .
Joseph Banks Rhine ( September 29 , 1895 -- February 20 , 1980 ) ; usually known as J. B. Rhine ) was a pioneer of parapsychology . Rhine founded the parapsychology lab at Duke University , the `` Journal of Parapsychology '' , and the Foundation for Research on the Nature of Man .