What's the difference between ghosts and poltergeists?

Answer 1

A ghost is normally defined as the returning spirit of a deceased person. Parapsychologist stopped using this term due to lack of evidence of intelligence in some ghosts (they did not speak, look at you when you spoke to them etc.) and started using apparition (the image of a person not physically present) one can see apparitions of people still alive and an image does not automatically mean a spirit is present. There are many beliefs about ghosts (unfinished business, returning to favorite locations, etc.) but no knows what they are or even if all seen ghosts are the same.
Poltergeist does translate into "noisy ghost" and was thought to be a spirit with the power to move physical objects. Skeptical explanations aside (like children moving things and blaming it on a ghost) poltergeist are today thought to be examples of psychokinesis (PK) the ability to move matter with your mind. Poltergeist outbreaks are usually associated with mental tension and stress where the person has no healthy way of releasing this tension so the mind acts for them (usually without their knowledge) to relieve tension. The resolving of these situations almost always causes poltergeist activity to cease. This has been extensively studies by William Roll who has the defining book on the subject published back in 1977 called "Poltergeist"

Michael John Weaver, M.S.,
Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Answer 2

Poltergeist Ghost

Answer 3

A ghost is thought to be the remaining energy of a person who was once living. There are two types of hauntings. In the first, a ghost can be replaying events that happened in a particular location and does not interact with the living - like a record playing over and over again. In the second type of haunting, a ghost can be trapped on this plane because of the tragic or violent way they died. In this type of haunting the ghost does interact with the living in order to get their attention. A poltergeist, or "noisy spirit," plays mischievious tricks on the living. A poltergeist is likely to throw or move objects or cause strange noises. Some theorize that poltergeist activity is not caused by spirits, but rather the activity is caused by a youth who has latent telekinetic ability. As they enter adolescence their inner turmoil is manifested in objects moving and strange sounds.

Answer 4

Define Poltergeist

Answer 5

In my opinion, A Poltergeist is a TYPE of Ghost. A ghost is spirit of someone deceased or the entity of something unexplained, either human or non-human. What you probably SHOULD (or were trying to) ask is "What's the difference between an Apparition and a Poltergeist?"

When people say "Ghost" we immediately get the idea of a human-like white/see-through figure. This is actually what an Apparition is. They show up in a transparent human form and wear the clothing of their period (usually... unless you see the apparition of an animal... then that's different). You might also note that they normally appear faint and disfigured as in being incomplete. They are most often reported being seen in older homes, hotels, theaters and cemeteries (though some are even known to be seen standing on abandoned roads and such...).

A Poltergeist on the other hand is a type of ghost or spirit you can't see. Poltergeists are well known for playing pranks, causing foul smells, knocking on walls/doors, throwing objects and moving objects. In fact, the name "Poltergeist" itself means "Noisy Spirit".

Answer 6

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What's the difference between ghosts and poltergeists?

Answer 7

A ghost is usually defined as the apparition of a deceased person, frequently similar in appearance to that person, and encountered in places he or she frequented, or in association with the person's former belongings. The word "ghost" may also refer to the spirit or soul of a deceased person, or to any spirit or demon. Ghosts are often associated with haunting, which is, according to the Parapsychological Association, "the more or less regular occurrence of paranormal phenomena associated with a particular locality (especially a building) and usually attributed to the activities of a discarnate entity; the phenomena may include apparitions, poltergeist disturbances, cold drafts, sounds of steps and voices, and various odours.

Ghosts are controversial phenomena. According to a poll conducted in 2005 by the Gallup Organization, about 32% of Americans believe in the existence of ghosts. The term ghost has been replaced by apparition in parapsychology, because the word ghost is deemed insufficiently precise.

Poltergeist (help·info) (German for noisy ghost) is a term used to describe a supposed spirit or ghost that manifests itself by moving and influencing inanimate objects.

Reports of poltergeist activity typically feature raps, bumps, thumps, knocks, footsteps, and bed shaking, all without a discernible point of origin or physical reason for occurrence. Many accounts also report objects being thrown about the room, furniture being moved, and even people being levitated. Though rare, a few reported poltergeists have been purported to speak, including the The Bell Witch in 1817 and Gef the Talking Mongoose in 1931.

Answer 8

A ghost is usually defined as the apparition of a deceased person, frequently similar in appearance to that person, and encountered in places he or she frequented, or in association with the person's former belongings.

Poltergeist (German for noisy ghost) is a term used to describe a supposed spirit or ghost that manifests itself by moving and influencing inanimate objects.

Answer 9

Basically a ghost is just an entity that manifests itself in a variety of ways (apparition, sounds, smell, etc) A Poltergeist is a type of ghost that has one purpose - to harass the people in the area in any way possible - innocently or in a mean/violent way.

Answer 10

A ghost is what you think of in a normal haunting. Aunt Edna is just making sure her family is oK.

A poltergeist is a noisy ghost. It makes strange sounds and smells in the house, and it likes to move and or throw things around.