cross-correspondence

n. in spiritualism and parapsychology, the situation in which two or more mediums, who claim to be in touch with the same spirit source but not with each other, produce similar or complementary messages. To the believer, cross-correspondence provides firm evidence for the objective reality of spirit messages (or, at the very least, for some form of telepathy between the mediums). A more mundane explanation might stress (a) the mediums’ access to the same biographical facts about the dead person and the same information regarding his or her interests, tastes, and opinions and (b) the mediums’ knowledge of the same spiritualist texts concerning the nature of the afterlife and the spirit world.

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Psychology term of the day

March 17th 2025

principled negotiation

a procedure to resolve the conflict between individuals or groups that strives for a mutually beneficial resolution while acknowledging the value of ongoing relationships. The procedure has four main components: (a) separating interpersonal problems from the more substantive issues between the parties and dealing with each issue individually, (b) focusing on the parties’ real interests rather than on what they initially say they want, (c) developing possible solutions that benefit all parties, and (d) insisting on objective criteria for the parties’ decisions. [first described in 1981 by Roger Fisher (1922–2012) and William L. Ury, U.S. experts on negotiation]