The Science Behind Why People Claim To See Ghosts | TODAY

According to one poll, 36% of Americans say they have seen a ghost – and not only on Halloween. Reporting for Weekend TODAY, NBC’s Sarah Harman looks at the science behind why some people claim to encounter spirits.

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The Science Behind Why People Claim To See Ghosts | TODAY

[deborahwright]

What about people who see ghosts while awake ?

[dennissmithy]

We as humans will never be ready to advance to the next level until the general population can accept there are real things going in our own surroundings on beyond our explanations.

[ChrisHuntisOn]

I have had 2 experiences I can not explain. Both of them 100 percent happened when i was awake. One happened at my aunts house. I told my mom and aunt i saw a ghost after I saw it. My aunt told me after i said something that the house was haunted by the previous owner. Her and her new husband would hear the ghost walking around the house at times and occasionally see him.

[andyclark]

Back in 1962 I was four year old boy. I know it was before I started school, to young to know what a ghost was. It was early on a bright summer’s morning, mum and dad was still asleep. I was sitting about four treads up the stairs when a image of a small person about 4 ft high appeared by the electric box. It was a light wavy image in a shaded area. I approached it, I drew my hand out to touch it, and it moved across the hall onto the wall of the stairs. As I walked to it the second time it went up the stairs then disappeared. I then got very scared I opened my parents bedroom door (next to the electric box) i ran in screaming. My mum said the best thing that it was an angel. Not knowing what an angel was, but she said it with a smile, which put me at ease. Not a year has passed without the memory of that morning.

[revolvermaster]

I claim that my camera has seen a ghost, I haven’t. I spent 20 years in a house with ghosts, even the dogs and cats sensed them and most occurrences were in the middle of the day!

[moonbeam]

They never said ghosts weren't real lol 😂😂😂. Ghosts are definitely real Ive seen them before.

[dazzle]

I was never a big believer in ghost, but I’ll be the first to tell you that this stuff is absolutely real

[vamountainman]

So nice of you to explain a sleeping phenomenon. Now what about all the people who were awake during their just pretend that never happens >.<

[Tazman]

Not only did i see a ghost at Fairmont hospital in Philadelphia, my friend who was with me saw the same exact thing that i saw, we saw what appeared to be a girl walk down the hall, and disappear into the wall near the nurses station. Now how do explain that. We both weren't hallucinating at same exact time, seeing the same exact thing. We definitely saw what i described. Now was it for sure a ghost, or could there be another explanation for what we saw, maybe an innerdemtional being of some sort, i don't know, but what i do know for sure is that we both saw it...

[illx]

Sad they compare sleep paralysis to actual ghosts. One has nothing to do with the other.

[dianek]

Sleep paralysis does not explain every paranormal experience. You are presenting this story as an if that’s all it is. Next time give the story to someone other than an unpaid intern and maybe you’ll get something more informative and interesting.

[antoniomoreira]

I swear I saw my dead grandpa and he even talked to me, I'm sure I was awake and I was able to move. It wasn't sleep paralysis neither was it a dream.

[Puravida_]

there is a reason why they did this segment
In the past recent years the increase in people having these experiences is become so much that they are trying to down play it as our imagination when in fact we are entering a new age which things like this are going to become more normal that it already is. the more people share these experiences the less they can be discredited.

[johnathanalvarez]

Ghost do exist, anyone can deny the truth but doesn’t mean they don’t exist because you’re in denial.

[rogeliomuzquiz]

They don't know what they talking about. I dont know why people see them but I been seeing them my entire life and people that are with me have seen them themselves but only when around me.

[holyvessel]

These people know ghost/spirits/demons/aka devils are real. I bet they won't make a news story about The Holy Ghost not being real. Where there's Son/Sun there's Darkness. Wake up

[cletusspucklerstablejeaniu]

I woulda thought 'Stupid' would be the number one reason.

[gofastER]

I've never seen a ghost but I've had a small handful of experiences in the almost 6 years I've been living at my current place. Enough to turn me into a believer. Before that, I made it about 38 years without believing. Thinking ghost people were just crazy. But after you do experience weird stuff, it becomes kind of hard to just write off.

[maximillianhuang]

Sleep paralysis, good one.
Its like saying depression is a choice.

[RajpalSingh-jlxx]

Ghost comes in night because he don't wanna face reveal 😂