Ghosts and hauntings have been reported from around the world and in many different forms. In fact, ghosts are one of the most widespread of all paranormal phenomena.
The most common definition of a ghost is that of a soul of a dead person, but there are other types of ghosts as well. There are also poltergeists and demonic possessions. Hauntings are said to occur in places where there has been a strong violent past or where a death has occurred that is premature and that the soul of the deceased does not accept its death.
Since the invention of photography, ghostly apparitions have been said to have been caught on film. Some characteristics of hauntings are sharp inexplicable drops in temperature and strange shapes which vanish without trace. Many people feel a spine tingling sensation at unexplained noises in the night.
A poltergeist is a spirit which can move objects and can be a disruptive influence. A poltergeist tends to attach itself to a person rather than a place. It is not yet determined whether a poltergeist is actually a spirit or whether the attached person has some form of paranormal ability such as telekinesis.
A demonic possession is where an individual is possessed by the devil itself, or by a demon or evil spirit. Demonic possessions can be a frightening occurance and usually the only "remedy" is from an exorcism.