A debunker is someone who actively tries to discredit anyone claiming to have had a paranormal experience. Often the work of a debunker involves disinformation—that is, spreading false information regarding the incident in question. Such disinformation may be in the form of false documents, faked photographs, or other evidence that seems to support a paranormal claim. The debunker then shows the evidence to be false, thereby accomplishing two objectives: discrediting the person making the claim by making it seem like he or she falsified the evidence, and making everyone who said the evidence was credible look foolish.

SEE ALSO:

• sceptics

SOURCE:

The Greenhaven Encyclopedia of Paranormal Phenomena – written by Patricia D. Netzley © 2006 Gale, a part of Cengage Learning