Residual activity, sometimes called unintelligent haunting, is best explained as a type of recording of  traumatic or emotional events that have become part of the environment.  They replay at regular intervals or when conditions are right.  No actual ghost's soul is present.  Rather, the haunting is an energy pattern that has imprinted itself onto the environment and presents itself, more or less, like a movie that plays again and again in the same exact fashion without change.

In this same catagory is residual energy.  That is, energy that is left behind but does not present itself in any visual manifestations.  Residual energy can present itself as "gut feeling" - good or bad.

The word poltergeist is German.  It actually means noisy ghost because as a rule, poltergeist will make a lot of noise and move physical objects around a site.  Although a conventional ghost can often move physical objects and make noises, poltergeist activity differs from a conventional haunting in two very important ways.

The first is the phenomenon always surrounds an individual living person.  Usually a young teenager or child entering puberty (called the focus of the haunting).  Secondly, there are no unearthly entities involved.  There are no ghosts of the once living involved.  Nor are there, in a true case of poltergeist activity, any demonic influences involved.

The working theory is that as a child who has any natural psychic ability enters puberty, and their brain starts to change into a more adult state, as medical science has shown the brain does, this releases a type of uncontrolled telekinetic ability that manifests itself around the child.  Particularly when the child is agitated or upset.  The psychics on the NEPRS team believe - based on the fact that they all experienced poltergeist activity growing up - this theory is probably correct.

On occasion,  studies have shown that some reports of poltergeist activity turn out to be nothing supernatural at all, but simply attention getting ploys by unhappy children.

When there is real poltergeist activity, there is no proven way to stop it.  Although some have had success by suggesting the parent of the child who is the focus of the phenomena get the child involved in a physically active outside activity such as a sports team or martial arts class.

Though some parapsychologists would disagree, the NEPRS team (and many other parapsychological groups around the world) have classified another type of ghost.  That is the Ghost in Visitation.  This is a person who is well aware that they are a ghost, and has even passed through to the other side of existence, but for some reason or another makes a choice to return to the earthly plane for brief visits.   They do this by way of a kind of portal that allows them to cross back and forth very easily and at will.

Oddly enough, only 10 years ago these portals were rare and visitation was not a very common event.  But the last decade has seen a marked increase in these doorways.  The reason for this is unknown at this time.

The word spirit is often used interchangeably with ghost, even by the NEPRS team, in the strictest sense a Spirit Entity is defined as a bodiless being - once living or never having lived on earth - that is operating from a non-physical state and interacting with the living.  These beings - in general - do not exist in the same realms as ghosts and usually work to help those on the earth plane.  Among the most common of these are the Spirit Guides that work with psychic Mediums.   

As a rule Spirit Entities are not known to be malevolent.  However, caution should be taken when interacting with these beings until their nature is clearly known.  It is a fact that on occasion beings with evil intent have been known to present themselves to the unknowing as a positive spirit entity when they are not.   Be cautious of any being whose words or deeds make you feel uncomfortable.  Use your common sense.

Though it is not our intention to scare anyone, it is important that we talk about these beings.  Even though true demons are relatively rare at haunting sites, darkly motivated energy eating beings are more common than most would like to admit.

The difference between the two is important to note.

Demons are a class of beings whose purpose in life seems to be the creation of  pain, grief, and evil.  Those of a religious nature can easily classify demons as henchmen of the devil, spreading his evil work throughout the world.  Henchmen of the devil or part of natures design, demons are dangerous beings who purposely inflict  pain, suffering, fear, sickness, and sometimes even death on people who are unfortunate enough to run across them. 

Inexperienced ghost hunters and teens looking for a thrill will often seek out sites that have a reputation of demonic activity since the paranormal effect around demons is often amazing to behold.  But this is foolish and DANGEROUS.  If you suspect a haunting is due to a demon, document what you know, get out of the situation, and contact a reputable, trained, professional Demonologist.  Do not fool around with demons.   Demons are very clever and can easily manipulate the untrained, often to the point of causing serious damage and even death.  Unless you are a trained Demonologist, your direct involvement in a demon based haunting can only make it worse.