“I’m not worried about ghosts.”
It’s a claim that sounds easy, especially 40 years ago, when Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Dan Aykroyd were making audiences laugh with their ghost-busting antics. After all, how can you fear something that’s not even real?
This program was the first to use a technique known as “provocation,” where investigators provoke spirits by insulting them.
However, times have changed. Nowadays, the number of Americans who believe in ghosts has seen a remarkable 400% increase. Surveys indicate that almost two-thirds of the population holds some beliefs about the supernatural, with 20% claiming they have seen ghosts themselves.
Entrepreneurship
About 50 million Americans reportedly have encountered a ghost, and ghost hunting has evolved into a profitable industry. It seems that the proverbial invisible hand really is at work.
Paranormal tourism is thriving, demonstrating that there’s an undeniable demand for such experiences. Millions of Americans are spending over $300 million on haunted attractions each year. If you fancy a bit of horror, a visit to Iowa gives you just that. The Villisca Ax Murder House, the site of a gruesome 1912 tragedy where eight people, including six children, were murdered, offers overnight stays for a price of $430.
Interest in ghost hunting shows has surprisingly surged as well. You’ll find countless paranormal-themed channels on YouTube. One popular channel, “sam and colby,” boasts an average of 10 million views per video. These guys explore haunted sites across the U.S., providing their audience with immersive experiences thanks to longer, unedited videos and a staggering 15 million subscribers.
If you’re not in the mood for lengthy videos filled with shaky cam footage and exclamations of “What was that?”, there are compilation channels that summarize the content for you.
Then you have channels like “mind junkie” and “Nuke’s top 5“, which unabashedly capitalize on our endless curiosity for creepy content. It makes you wonder if they are behind some of the videos exposing false claims. If they are, well, that’s quite a smart business move.
Stories from Clips
“Paranormal phenomena caught on camera” is currently airing its ninth season on Discovery+ and the Travel Channel. Think of it as a reality show, where a panel of experts reviews trends from supposed paranormal activities, showcasing everything from poltergeists to eerie shadows moving through forests. It’s a mix of “Ghostbusters” and “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” driven by the scientific rigor of both.
A psychologist suggests that prior beliefs in ghosts can lead individuals to interpret unusual sounds and occurrences as supernatural. The show’s host seems to understand this connection well, frequently referring to “energy”—often using it as a catch-all description for any unexplained noise or camera movement.
Ghost Roast
“Ghost Adventures” is one of the longest-running and most recognized shows in the genre. While experts in “Paranormal phenomena caught on camera” adopt a more observational approach, Zak Bagans and his aging goth crew are quite hands-on. They’ve traveled the U.S. in search of paranormal encounters since 2008. Their format is straightforward: show up at a reputedly haunted site, turn off the lights, and explore. It’s polished and well-edited entertainment.
This show is also known for popularizing “provocation” techniques, aiming to elicit responses from any lurking spirits with insults. It demonstrates some bravery, but Ray Parker Jr. himself is not directly involved in the hundreds of episodes. Often, it seems like the scariest moments are merely middle-aged men calling out into the dark.
The use of heaps of pseudoscientific gadgets sets this series apart from casual ghost hunters. They bring along gear like EMF meters—devices claimed to detect electromagnetic activity associated with ghosts—alongside motion trackers once used to detect Aliens in blockbusters. Unsurprisingly, the only things you often find are common electrical issues, rather than any supernatural entities.
Phantom Itch
The production quality is polished and cinematic. It aligns with the massive rise in ghost belief coinciding with the Golden Age of Horror. Art kind of reflects life, right? Many of these programs deploy similar techniques to those found in Hollywood’s special effects departments.
So, what compels us to watch these shows? Now in its 28th season, Ghost Adventures has mastered the art of instilling fear. These broadcasts cater to our desire to feel scared. Horror films allow us to engage with fear vicariously, showcasing how to confront it from the comfort and safety of our living rooms.
Then, there’s another, perhaps more poignant reason we find comfort in believing in ghosts: it’s similar to our belief in God. Ghost hunters and believers in a higher power may be driven by that same deep-rooted desire to find meaning and connection—one that has persisted throughout human history.
