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Terence Hines

Terence Michael Hines (born 22 March 1951) is an American academic and researcher. He is a professorofpsychologyatPace University, New York,^[1] and adjunct professorofneurology at the New York Medical College;^[2] he is also a science writer. Hines has a BA from Duke University, and an MA and PhD from the University of Oregon.^[3]

A fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, Hines is the author of Pseudoscience and the Paranormal which focuses on the fields of pseudoscience and the paranormal in the United States. He has also, controversially, authored papers expressing doubts about the existence of the G-spot.

Pseudoscience and the Paranormal[edit]

Hines is the author of the book Pseudoscience and the Paranormal, which mostly focuses on pseudoscience and the paranormal in the United States.^[4] He distinguishes pseudoscience from science by describing it as a hypothesis inconsistent with the known laws of physics, but one which cannot be falsified.^[4] In his book, Hines argues that pseudoscience tends not to be updated in the face of newly obtained evidence, and he highlights the difficulty in clearly demarcating pseudoscience from the paranormal.^[5]: 242 He also postulates that if paranormal abilities such as clairvoyanceorprecognition were possible, then surely one would expect casino and lottery incomes to be affected, although no such effect is observed.^[6]: 635

Hines is a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry,^[7] an organization that promotes skeptical inquiry of paranormal claims.

G-spot[edit]

In a 2001 comprehensive review article, Hines claimed that the evidence for the existence of the Gräfenberg spot ("G-spot"), a spot that 84% of women believe exists,^[8] was too weak, and that claims of its existence were based on small sample sizes and not supported by biochemistry or anatomy (particularly the lack of extra nerve endings in the region).^[9][10] Most of the studies at that time had also been conducted by a single team. Hines asserted that if such a spot exists, it is not particular to the Skene's glands.^[11] He described the G-spot as a "sort of gynecologic UFO: much sought for, much discussed, but unverified by objective means". The initial review resulted in a large controversy with three publications quickly defending its existence.^[9]

Works[edit]

• Pseudoscience and the Paranormal: A Critical Examination of the Evidence (1st ed.). Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Books. 1988. ISBN 978-0-87975-419-8.
• Pseudoscience and the Paranormal (2nd ed.). Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books. 2003. ISBN 978-1-57392-979-0.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• "The Science of Jurassic Park and The Lost World, or How to Build a Dinosaur (book review)". Skeptical Inquirer. 21 (6). November 1997. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008.
• Publications by Prof. Terence Hines – Pace University Library