Ghosts Explained - or are they?

A ghost is usually defined as the apparition of a deceased person which frequently carries the deceased person's likeness and is experienced in association with the person's former habitats. 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 odors."

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 The term ghost has been replaced by apparition in parapsychology , because the word ghost is deemed insufficiently precise.