Callum E. Cooper

[[File:Cal Cooper (Psychologist & Author).jpg|thumb|right|165px|Cal Cooper 
''(It's important to note that he's totally not posing for this photo - he has absolutely no idea the photographer is even there, his neck always does that)'']]
{{paranormal}}
'''Callum E. Cooper''' (best known as '''Cal Cooper''') is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[parapsychologist]], psychologist, and pseudoscientist best known for his research into telephone calls and their supposed relationship with the [[paranormal]].<ref>[http://www.paranormalreview.com/index.php/phone-calls-from-the-dead/ Phone calls from the dead?]. Paranormal Review.</ref><ref>[https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/events/view/id/323/telephone-calls-from-the-dead Telephone Calls from the Dead]. College of Psychic Studies.</ref>

Cooper takes issue with his views on the paranormal being categorized as [[pseudoscience]], despite being precisely that, and describes himself as a "science promoter" similar to how [[creationists]] label themselves "creation scientists".<ref name="Interview 1"/> After [[RationalWiki]] exposed Cooper's pseudoscientific views, he changed his [[Twitter]] profile to "Sceptic Activist and Science Promoter".<ref>https://twitter.com/callumecooper?lang=en</ref> As of 2023, Cooper is doing pseudoscientific research on the "prevalence of psychic experiences in the funeral industry", for the [[Society for Psychical Research]].<ref>[https://www.spr.ac.uk/research/current-research-projects Current Research Projects]</ref>

==Background==

Cooper has a BSc in psychology from the University of Northampton and an MRes from Sheffield Hallam University.<ref>[http://archive.is/R9w3F Callum Cooper]. Archive.</ref> He works as a lecturer in [[psychology]] at the University of Northampton within its Centre for the Study of Anomalous Psychological Processes.<ref>[https://www.northampton.ac.uk/directories/people/callum-cooper2/ Callum Cooper]. University of Northampton.</ref><ref name="Doyle">[http://www.arthurconandoylecentre.com/events/dr-callum-cooper-spiritual-psychic-connections-water/ Dr Cal Cooper – Spiritual and Psychic Connections with Water]. [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] Centre.</ref>

He has lectured on [[woo]] topics such as "spiritual and psychic connections with water".<ref name="Doyle"/>

He is a member of the [[Society for Psychical Research]].<ref>[http://www.parapsych.org/users/cal/profile.aspx Cal Cooper]. Parapsychological Association.</ref>

==''Telephone Calls from the Dead''==

Cooper is the author of ''Telephone Calls from the Dead'' (2012) and takes influence from the work of parapsychologist {{wpl|D. Scott Rogo||.}}<ref>[https://bigseance.com/2012/11/18/telephone-calls-from-the-dead/ Telephone Calls from the Dead]. The Big Séance.</ref> Cooper believes that [[psychokinesis]] (PK) is real. He speculates that some people may unconsciously phone themselves by PK.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nreVozprNBo Mission 99 — Phone Calls from the Dead with Cal Cooper] See 12-13 minutes in.</ref> He has also explored "[[infrasound]] and the parapsychological effects it can have on the human mind and body."<ref>[https://www.northampton.ac.uk/news/new-book-published-for-parapsychologist-cal-cooper/ New book published for parapsychologist Cal Cooper]. University of Northampton.</ref>

==Alex Tanous==

Cooper has embraced Alex Tanous as a genuine [[psychic]].<ref>[http://theunexplained.tv/paranormal-podcasts/edition-141-cal-cooper Cal Cooper Interview].</ref> He wrote the introduction to Tanous's book ''Conversations with Ghosts'' (2013).

Tanous is best known for having performed an [[out-of-body experience]] (OBE) experiment with parapsychologist {{wpl|Karlis Osis}} in 1980. According to Cooper:

{{quotebox|"Tanous produce[d] on average, a ninety per cent hit rate through perceiving a target image four rooms away".<ref>''Conversations with Ghosts'', p. xvi</ref>}}

However, [[Susan Blackmore]] noted that the overall hit rate had never been reported by Osis and that Tanous "made no more hits than would be expected by chance." This implies that any hits made were likely to have been due to chance and not an OBE."<ref>Blackmore, Susan. (1983). ''Beyond the Body: An Investigation of Out-of-the-Body Experiences''. Granada Publishing Limited. p. 223</ref>

==J. B. Rhine==

Cooper has defended and promoted the research of parapsychologist {{wpl|J. B. Rhine||.}} He says that Rhine's test subjects scored above chance level in [[Extrasensory perception|ESP]] experiments and the results cannot be explained by fraud or sensory leakage.<ref name="Interview 1">[https://trapademic.com/blog/2017/11/20/episode-5-dr-callum-e-cooper Episode 5 - Dr Callum E Cooper]. (40-50 minutes in the interview).</ref> He does not mention that the experiments contained serious methodological flaws. For example, Professors Charles M. Wynn and Arthur W. Wiggins have written:

{{quotebox|"Tests often took place with minimal or no screening between the subject and the person administering the test. Subjects could see the backs of cards that were later discovered to be so cheaply printed that a faint outline of the symbol could be seen. Furthermore, in face-to-face tests, subjects could see card faces reflected in the tester’s eyeglasses or cornea. They were even able to (consciously or unconsciously) pick up clues from the tester’s facial expression and voice inflection. In addition, an observant subject could identify the cards by certain irregularities like warped edges, spots on the backs, or design imperfections."<ref>Wynn, Charles M; Wiggins, Arthur W. (2001). ''Quantum Leaps in the Wrong Direction: Where Real Science Ends...and Pseudoscience Begins''. Joseph Henry Press. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-309-07309-7</ref>}}

==Criticism of skepticism and Wikipedia==

Cooper has criticized [[Skepticism|skeptics]] for not being [[Open mind|open-minded]] about paranormal research. He claims skeptics are actually "cynics" who do not investigate the claims they criticize.

Cooper has complained that [[Wikipedia]] is biased against [[paranormal]] topics and negative towards the field of parapsychology (hmmmm, one wonders why). He argues that a group of skeptical editors (who he describes as "cynics") control Wikipedia biographies of parapsychologists and that they are "idiots paid to sit there".<ref name="Interview 1"/> He is a proponent of the [[Guerrilla_Skepticism_on_Wikipedia#Conspiracy_theory|Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia]] conspiracy theory.<ref name="Interview 1"/> (for which no evidence exists).

Cooper has criticized [[atheism]] and described it as a "belief system" and "religion in itself".<ref name="Interview 2">[https://trapademic.com/blog/2017/11/20/episode-5-dr-callum-e-cooper Episode 5 - Dr Callum E Cooper]. (108-112 minutes in the interview).</ref> He has argued that [[Richard Dawkins]] is biased against the paranormal and "made his mind up" before looking at the evidence.<ref name="Interview 2"/>

==Publications==

*''Telephone Calls from the Dead'' (2012)  Tricorn Books. ISBN 0957107412.
*''Conversations with Ghosts'' (2013) [with Alex Tanous] White Crow Books. ISBN 1908733551.
*''Paracoustics: Sound and the Paranormal'' (2015) [with Steven T. Parsons] White Crow Books. ISBN 1910121320.
*''Death, Dying, and Mysticism: The Ecstasy of the End'' (2015) Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1349501107.

==External links==

*[http://www.callumecooper.com// Cal Cooper]
*[https://twitter.com/CallumECooper Twitter]

==References==
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:Parapsychologists]]
[[Category:Pissed at us]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience promoters]]
[[Category:Psychologists]]

Categories: Living people, Authors, British people, Parapsychologists, Pissed at us, Pseudoscience promoters, Psychologists