Precognition facts for kids

Precognition (say: pree-kog-NISH-un) is the idea of being able to see or know about future events before they happen. It's also called "premonition" or "second sight." People who believe in precognition think it's a special mental ability.

What is Precognition?

Precognition is a type of extra-sensory perception (ESP). This means it's a way of getting information that doesn't use your normal five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell). If someone had precognition, they might have a dream about something that later comes true. Or they might have a strong feeling that something is going to happen before it does.

How People Describe It

People who claim to experience precognition often describe it in different ways:

• Dreams: Sometimes, a person might dream about an event, and then that exact event happens later.
• Visions: Some people say they see quick flashes or images of future moments while they are awake.
• Feelings: Others might get a strong gut feeling or intuition about something that is about to occur.

Is Precognition Real?

Many scientists and researchers have studied precognition. However, there is no strong scientific proof that anyone truly has this ability. Most scientists agree that there isn't enough evidence to show that precognition is real.

Parapsychology Research

The study of precognition and other psychic abilities is called parapsychology. Researchers in this field try to find scientific evidence for these powers. Even with many studies, they have not found clear, repeatable proof that precognition exists.

Precognition in Stories and Pop Culture

Even though there's no scientific proof, precognition is a very popular idea in fiction. You can find characters with this ability in many movies, books, and video games.

Examples in Entertainment

• In some stories, a character might have visions that help them stop a disaster.
• Other times, a character might have dreams that warn them about danger.
• These stories often make precognition seem exciting or mysterious. It adds a lot of drama to the plot.

Related pages

• Prediction

Images for kids

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  "Complicated Premonition (Torso in a Yellow Shirt)" by Kazimir Malevich

See also

In Spanish: Precognición para niños