A residual haunting, in paranormal terms, is a type of haunting where a location seems to replay past events or sounds, like a recording, without the presence of an intelligent, interacting spirit. It's often described as an "echo" or an "afterimage" of the past, where strong emotions or significant events have imprinted themselves on the environment. In paranormal terms, a residual haunting is like a 'vertical afterimage', according to paranormal investigator Frederic W. H. Myers. It's a memory impression, a "recording" of events, emotions, and energies that have become ingrained in a specific location, especially when strong emotions or trauma are involved. A popular explanation for residual hauntings is the Stone Tape Theory. This theory suggests that inanimate objects like stone and wood can absorb energy from intense emotional or traumatic events, similar to a tape recording. Under the right conditions, this stored energy can then "play back" in the form of a haunting. It's important to distinguish residual hauntings from intelligent hauntings. In intelligent hauntings, the spirit is conscious and can interact with the living, respond to questions, and even influence the environment, according to Anna Maria Manalo. Residual hauntings are believed to be caused by the lingering energy or "memory" of past events, particularly those involving strong emotions or trauma. Instead of a conscious entity interacting with the living, the location seems to replay these past events, sometimes repeatedly, like a broken record. Unlike intelligent hauntings where a spirit is aware of its surroundings and can interact, residual hauntings are considered non-interactive and repetitive, according to paranormal investigators. While residual hauntings can be eerie, they are generally considered harmless because the "ghosts" aren't actively interacting with the living.