what is a poltergeist

A poltergeist is a type of ghost or spirit that is believed to be responsible for physical disturbances, such as loud noises, objects being moved or destroyed, and inexplicable smells. They are also known for their ability to pinch, bite, hit, and trip people, as well as move or levitate objects such as furniture and cutlery. Poltergeists are often blamed for violent actions such as throwing stones or setting fire to clothing and furniture. According to popular belief, a poltergeists activity appears to concentrate on a particular member of a family, often an adolescent, and its object is harassment or, rarely, physical harm. The activity that takes place will start off with knocks and bangs, furniture starting to move around by itself, and then the activity will become more intense, manifesting itself through voices and even the appearance of full apparitions. Most of the time, in the case of a poltergeist, the haunting circles around a female in her teen years, and some of these cases seem to be caused by the female unknowingly controlling the energy around herself. Poltergeist activity can be explained by psychokinesis, according to some parapsychologists.