A critical overview of published research and theories on anomalous telecommunication phenomena examines how studying these events has contributed to parapsychology. The thesis reviews four peer-reviewed papers, an extended book chapter, and a book covering the topic's history, researcher biographies, skeptical approaches, the psychology of experients, and criticisms of the research. Possible explanations considered include anomalistic psychology, the survival hypothesis, super-psi theory, and multiverse theory. The conclusion offers suggestions for future progression based on past and present approaches to spontaneous cases and the psi versus survival debate.
Spontaneous after-death communications (ADCs) occur when a person unexpectedly perceives a deceased individual through sight, hearing, touch, smell, or a sensed presence, often while awake, asleep, or in transitional states of consciousness. A long-term international mixed-methods survey in six languages collected 1,311 completed questionnaires. This complementary analysis of 235 German-language responses focused on the perceived state of mind of the deceased and its impact on grieving. Most participants who sensed the deceased's state of mind reported positive moods, with the contact centered on offering comfort and support. A minority perceived negative states, where contact focused on the deceased's difficulties and did not provide comfort, potentially complicating the grieving process. Positive effects on grief are attributed to the experience feeling real, the belief in a continuing connection, and the perceived messages.