Reichenbach phenomenon

an energy field allegedly emanating from crystals, magnets, and living things (both plants and animals). Adherents claim that it can be made visible by Kirlian photography but is otherwise discernible only by certain “sensitive” individuals. The phenomenon was first described by the Austrian chemist and metallurgist Baron Karl von Reichenbach (1788–1869), who held it to be a manifestation of an all-pervading physical force that he named Od or Odyle after the Norse god Odin. Reichenbach considered this force to be distinct from electricity and magnetism but similar to the animal magnetism of Franz Anton Mesmer. These ideas later influenced the Austrian psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich (1897–1957) and his theory of orgone energy. The Reichenbach phenomenon is now mainly cited by advocates of crystal healing. See also aura; effluvium.

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Psychology term of the day

November 22nd 2024

multiple discriminant analysis

(MDA) a multivariate statistical procedure for examining the relationship between a set of more than two categories representing an outcome variable and a set of predictor variables. It often is used to verify that the predictors (e.g., family history, self-esteem, number of sleeping hours) are accurately classifying individuals into the appropriate categories of the outcome variable (diagnosis of depression). Also called multiple classification analysis (MCA).