Deja Vu Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Deja Vu - Essay Example The experience of dj vu is usually accompanied by a compelling sense of familiarity, and also a sense of "eeriness", "strangeness", or "weirdness". The "previous" experience is most frequently attributed to a dream, although in some cases there is a firm sense that the experience "genuinely happened" in the past" (2008, pg. 1). Dj vu is an experience that is quite common, with 70% of people reporting experiencing it at least one time in formal studies. Past literature has also discussed dj vu, indicating that it is a rather old phenomenon. The experience is rather random, thereby making it hard to recreate in laboratory studies. Hence, research on the topic is most often conducted under states of hypnosis. The fact that the experience is hard to recreate also leads to there being little statistical research on the topic available. There are three different types of dj vu: dj vecu, dj senti, and dj visite. Deja vecu translates directly into "already lived." It is the most commonly experienced form of dj vu. "Dj vcu refers to an experience involving more than just sight, which is why labeling such "dj vu" is usually inaccurate. The sense involves a great amount of detail, sensing that everything is just as it was before and a weird knowledge of what is going to be said or happen next" (Wikipedia, 2008, pg. 2). Deja senti "primarily specifies something 'already felt.' Unlike the implied precognition of dj vcu, dj senti is primarily or even exclusively a mental happening, has no precognitive aspects, and rarely if ever remains in the afflicted person's memory afterwards" (Wikipedia, 2008, pg. 2). Deja visite "is less common and involves an uncanny knowledge of a new place. The translation is "already visited." Here one may know his or her way around in a new town or landscape while at the same time knowing that t his should not be possible" (Wikipedia, 2008, pg. 3). How Stuff Works offers an additional definition. In situations where one is learning a new topic, it is often helpful to look at the definitions provided by several sources. According to How Stuff Works, "The term deja vu is French and means, literally, "already seen." Those who have experienced the feeling describe it as an overwhelming sense of familiarity with something that shouldn't be familiar at all. Say, for example, you are traveling to England for the first time. You are touring a cathedral, and suddenly it seems as if you have been in that very spot before. Or maybe you are having dinner with a group of friends, discussing some current political topic, and you have the feeling that you've already experienced this very thing -- same friends, same dinner, same topic" (2008, pg. 1). Methods Used to Find the Answer The answers for this particular research assignment were found utilizing a search engine. The writer went to www.google.com, typed in the keywords 'dj vu' and selected resources from the hit list. Implications the Answer Has The main implication that the answer has is that this is a fairly common phenomenon that has been around a long time and, therefore, will likely remain around. It is not something to be experienced merely in the past or the