Chris French

Professor of Psychology

Chris French is an emeritus professor in the psychology department at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is a fellow of the British Psychological Society and of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a patron of Humanists U.K. He has published over 200 articles and chapters covering a wide range of topics. His main current area of research is the psychology of paranormal beliefs and anomalous experiences. He frequently appears on radio and television casting a skeptical eye over paranormal claims. His most recent book is The Science of Weird Shit: Why Our Minds Conjure the Paranormal (MIT Press).

Chris French (Credit: Stuart Gennery)

A storefront with signs for psychic telepathy readings and a phone number. Two white plastic chairs are placed in front. The storefront is pink with a black awning and a large hand sign advertising $10 readings.

Neuropsych

The psychology of the psychic

Thinking of a number between one and ten? Here’s how predictable human responses create the illusion of telepathy.

An abstract digital collage inspired by alien abduction stories, with a monochrome vinyl record at the center surrounded by colorful, glitch-like textures and shapes.

The Past

A two-stage psychological model that explains alien abduction stories

The truth may be out there — but it’s not in these close encounters of the third kind.