Subjective Forms of Spontaneous Psi Experiences

An analysis of roughly one thousand spontaneous psychic experiences identified four main types: intuitive (a simple, unreasoned hunch), hallucinatory (projected as if a sensation), unrealistic dreaming (characterized by fantasy), and realistic dreaming (photographically realistic imagery). The first two types occurred only in the waking state. These four forms are common in mental life, not unique to psychic experiences, which helps understand the process. The main acquisition of knowledge appears to occur unconsciously, with the conscious form representing a mental mechanism that carries the information across the threshold. Some act of selective judgment is inferred below consciousness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In this study, approximately one thousand cases of spontaneous psychic experiences were analyzed to find out what range of forms the experiences more commonly took.Four main types were found: (1) Intuitive, in which the subject's experience was a simple, unreasoned impression or hunch.(2) Hallucinatory, in which the experience was projected as if it were a sensation.(3) Unrealistic dreaming, in which the experience was characterized by fantasy.(4) Realistic dreaming, in which the imagery was almost photographically realistic.Groups (1) and (2) occurred only in the waking state.The fact that these four types are common in mental life and are not peculiar to psychic experiences is of importance in understanding the process.The classification introduces new questions, such, for example, as what part personality differences may play in determining the form which a spontaneous experience will take.It appears that the main act of acquiring the knowledge occurs on the unconscious level and the form the impression will take in consciousness represents the mental device or "mechanism" by which knowledge of the stimulus event is carried over the threshold.Some act of selective judgment is inferred to occur below the level of consciousness.---Ed.Amid the various endeavors to understand and control psi ability, little attention has as yet been paid to the range and types of subjective forms of its expression in consciousness.However, now that it is recognized that the basic psi process occurs on an unconscious level, the importance of correctly interpreting its conscious manifestations is greater than ever before.Neglect of this aspect of psi has doubtless been due to the fact that in experimental situations, the form of the conscious expression is largely limited or channelled by the conditions of the experiment.For example, in card calling tests, the subject is likely to experience a series of visual images, correct or incorrect; in matching tests, to have a motor impulse to place the card in a given position, right or wrong.In spontaneous experiences, however, it would seem that much more of the method of operation of the process would be revealed, for in such experiences conditions are uncontrolled and responses are unrestricted.That they are unrestricted is evidenced by the many differences of form that result.The forms vary obviously from vague hunches and general intuitions to clear-cut and detailed impressions.It would seem, however, that the variations are not unlimited, for in studying large numbers of spontaneous case reports, similarities of form are observable, and eventually recognizable types emerge.This observation suggests that the forms may have a rationale, may be the result of general underlying principles.But