---
category: Psi Phenomenon
created: 2025-07-22
description: Psi is a general term in parapsychology for psychic phenomena, encompassing
  abilities such as extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis (PK).
summary: Psi is a general term in Parapsychology for psychic phenomena, encompassing
  abilities such as Extrasensory Perception (ESP) and Psychokinesis (PK).
tags:
- concept
- parapsychology
title: Psi
updated: 2025-07-22
---

[Psi](/concepts/psi/) is a general term in [Parapsychology](/concepts/parapsychology/) for psychic phenomena, encompassing abilities such as [extrasensory perception](/concepts/extrasensory-perception/) (ESP) and [psychokinesis](/concepts/psychokinesis/) (PK). The concept of psi has been explored throughout history, from ancient shamans and prophets to modern scientific research. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, psi is the underlying phenomenon investigated by programs like the [Stargate Project](/programs/stargate-project/) for military and intelligence applications.[^1]

### Manifestations of Psi

Psi can manifest in various forms, including:

*   Clairvoyance: The ability to perceive objects or events without the use of the known senses, often at a distance or hidden from view. [Remote Viewing](/concepts/remote-viewing/) is a specific application of clairvoyance.[^1]

*   Precognition: The ability to perceive or predict future events. This was explored in techniques like [Associative Remote Viewing](/concepts/associative-remote-viewing/).[^1]

*   Telepathy: The direct mental communication of thoughts, feelings, or ideas from one mind to another without the use of conventional sensory channels. The [Nautilus (Telepathy Project)](/programs/the-nautilus-telepathy-project/) was a fabricated story that spurred Soviet research into telepathy.[^1]

*   Psychokinesis (PK): The ability to influence physical systems, objects, or events with the mind, without physical interaction. This includes phenomena like metal bending, as demonstrated by [Uri Geller](/people/uri-geller/), or affecting the swing rate of a pendulum.[^1]

### Scientific Investigation and Challenges

Scientific investigation into psi has a long and controversial history. Early psychical research, which emerged from the study of hypnosis, later transformed into parapsychology, seeking to apply rigorous scientific methods to the study of psi. Despite efforts by researchers like [J. B. Rhine](/people/j-b-rhine/) and organizations like the [Parapsychological Association](/organizations/parapsychological-association/), psi research has largely remained outside mainstream science, facing skepticism and the "giggle factor" due to the lack of tangible, repeatable results and real-world applications that could convince the broader scientific community.[^1]

However, government interest in psi, particularly from the [Soviet Union](/places/soviet-union/) and the [U.S.](/places/united-states/), led to covert research programs like the [Stargate Project](/programs/stargate-project/), driven by concerns about a potential "[psi gap](/concepts/psi-gap/)." These programs explored the operational utility of psi for intelligence gathering, despite the scientific controversies.[^1]

---

[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997.