Final answer:
Dr. Lakeby interprets Mildred's experiences in the house through a scientific lens, attributing her mental state to psychological rather than supernatural causes. He provides logical explanations based on prior events, but it remains ambiguous whether he entirely believes in the absence of the supernatural.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Dr. Lakeby, Mildred is affected by past events in the house in a way that suggests psychological distress rather than supernatural occurrences.
Dr. Lakeby tries to present the events as scientific by providing rational explanations and dismissing the idea of supernatural intervention.
He attributes Mildred's reactions to the power of suggestion and subconscious responses to stimuli in her environment.
When examining the house's history, Dr. Lakeby articulates how the human mind can construct a narrative of hauntings based on prior knowledge of tragic events associated with the location.
He argues that these beliefs can manifest in behaviors and experiences that appear paranormal but have logical psychological explanations, like heightened stress responses.
It is unclear whether Dr. Lakeby fully believes his own explanations.
The text may suggest that while he adheres to a scientific framework, there could be a level of skepticism or unresolved questions in his mind about the true nature of the events in question.