Felt presence—the sense that someone else is nearby when no one is there—occurs across neurology, bereavement, psychosis, hypnagogic states, solo sports, and spiritual experiences, but systematic comparisons are rare. Three online surveys compared felt presence in people with psychosis or voice-hearing (75 participants), spiritualist believers (47 participants), and endurance/solo athletes (84 participants). Hierarchical linear regression showed that a general tendency toward hallucinations predicted felt presence frequency in all groups; paranoia and female gender were additional predictors in the psychosis sample. Qualitative analysis revealed shared features, especially immersive states, across contexts. The findings support a unitary model of felt presence, suggesting common underlying mechanisms.
Felt presence—the sense that someone else is nearby when no one is there—is common in neurology, bereavement, and spiritual contexts, but rarely studied systematically across different groups. A mixed-methods analysis of three online surveys compared felt presence in a general population sample including people with psychosis and voice-hearing (75 participants), people with spiritual beliefs (47 participants), and endurance/solo practitioners (84 participants). Frequency of felt presence was predicted by a general tendency to hallucinate in all groups; paranoia and female gender also predicted it in the psychosis-inclusive sample. Qualitative analysis revealed both shared and distinct features of the experience across groups, with immersive states playing a role. The findings support a unitary model of felt presence.