The Singapore Theory

Most ghost investigators have used this theory whether they know the name for it or not. 

This theory is in use when an investigator creates an environment that the ghost might be familiar with in hopes of attracting them. The Singapore Theory is sometimes called the “Theory of Familiarization” or just simply, “Paranormal Stimuli.”

The use of Trigger Objects that make a connection to the deceased in some way is this theory in use. An example of this is when toys are used to attract child spirits. * 

Some investigators slam the use of this theory because it doesn’t produce repeatable results. But I have found it does help attract activity that then can be captured on video or on a digital voice recorder.

I give The Singapore Theory credit for creating one standard practice when it comes to investigations. 

Most ghost hunters today realize that it is vital to do research on the history of a place before they investigate it. Of course, this research which often includes interviews with witnesses etc. is not a guarantee that the investigator knows what they might encounter, but it does help. 

For instance, if it is believed the former owner of home haunts it --familiar items such as music can be played or a passage from a book might be read out loud upping the chances a spirit might respond.

Let me mention here--99 percent of the time the specific identity of a ghost cannot be verified. But using items from a different era can draw spirits out regardless.

Here are a couple of examples of how I have put this theory to good use in the past. 

A few years back a team and I investigated a home that was given in trust to a local university in my area. Frank Hibben (1910-2002) built this home and taught at this university. Hibben was an archaeologist, anthropologist, and author. But his passion in life was “big-game hunting” --over the years he set many world records. 

The rooms in his home are filled with hundreds of mounted African animal heads. One room even has a mounted elephant head with footstools made out of its legs. When I first walked in, I ironically felt that there might be more animal spirits in this home than human.

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I took one magazine that did a feature story on Hibben’s home and his passion for big-game hunting and used it during an EVP session. 

I mentioned his hunting feats and told him I was impressed with the quality of the taxidermy work. ** Our EMF’s went off, and we picked up a voice. But of course, I cannot verify this was Hibben responding.

Photo: Dave Dell

At another investigation, we put this theory into practice again. We investigated the St. James Hotel in Cimarron, New Mexico. On the second floor of this hotel in the front hall, there is a “poker room” where Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp, etc. played poker. 

While we did an EVP session in this room, we used the poker chips and cards we had brought to play a round of poker.

Nothing happened while we were in the room but when we left after midnight to go outside for a break, one of our cameras picked up the lamp swinging in this room. We had the window open for it was hot in the hotel--but there was not even a hint of a breeze that night. This video is highlighted in a post I wrote about the St. James here.

A good example of The Singapore Theory in use is during Civil War re-enactments. Of course, these groups are not trying to attract paranormal activity but often they do. When you put on a uniform from another era and re-create a battle--sometimes ghost soldiers that “lived it” show up.

One investigator who used this theory was investigating a medieval monastery in England. He dressed up as a monk and entered the old chapel in hopes of stirring up activity. He got more than he bargained for. He feels that a ghost of a real monk knew he was not the real deal. Invisible hands literally shoved him out of the chapel.

*  In another post I wrote about TriggerObjects.

** I did admire the taxidermy work--but I do not like the concept of displaying trophies from hunting.