Cogprints

Environmental Sensitivity: Inquiry Into a Possible Link with Apparitional Experience

Jawer, Michael (2006) Environmental Sensitivity: Inquiry Into a Possible Link with Apparitional Experience. [Journal (Paginated)]

This is the latest version of this eprint.

Full text available as:

[img]
Preview
 PDF
866Kb
[img] Other
203Kb

Abstract

Psi researchers often use the term ‘sensitivity’ when theorizing that certain persons may be more apt to register anomalous influences than others. Through a review of the literature, it is argued that some individuals are disposed toward a range of innate sensitivities that, in novelty as well as intensity, distinguish them from the general population. It is hypothesized that such persons will exhibit greater susceptibility to a range of environmental factors including allergies, migraine headache, chronic pain and chronic fatigue. Furthermore, it is suggested that sensitive individuals will report a higher than average degree of psi perception as well as apparent electromagnetic influence. Through a 54-item survey designed by the author, the following issues are evaluated: the extent to which persons who describe themselves as ‘sensitive’ appear to be affected by such factors; whether their immediate family members may be similarly affected; to what extent environmental sensitivity parallels apparitional experience; and how such findings compare or contrast with questions asked of a control group. Based on both the literature and the survey results, the author argues that sensitivity is a bona fide neurobiological phenomenon. While no single factor in a person's background is likely to distinguish him/her as ‘sensitive,’ eight demographic or personality factors are found to be statistically significant. If further studies were to document similar results, a more tangible basis would be provided for the study of apparitional experience than has been possible to date.

Item Type:Journal (Paginated)
Keywords:neurobiology, sensitive, sensitivity, survey, environmental, anomalous, perception, migraine, allergy, synesthesia, nightmares, sleep, disorder, chronic, pain, fatigue, fibromyalgia, psi, apparition, apparitional, gender, women, female, laterality, handedness, trauma, childhood, early, depression, alcoholism, electrical, chemical, immune, fantasy-prone, imagination, absorption, mystical, transliminal, transliminality, electromagnetic, personality, temperament, introversion, extroversion, ambidextrous, first-born
Subjects:Psychology > Perceptual Cognitive Psychology
ID Code:4846
Deposited By: Jawer, Michael
Deposited On:21 Apr 2006
Last Modified:11 Mar 2011 08:56

Available Versions of this Item

References in Article

Select the SEEK icon to attempt to find the referenced article. If it does not appear to be in cogprints you will be forwarded to the paracite service. Poorly formated references will probably not work.

American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, ed. William Morris. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1981.

Aron, Elaine N. Ph.D. The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You. New York: Carol Publishing Group, 1996.

Baron-Cohen, Simon (1996). "Is There a Normal Phase of Synaesthesia in Development?" Psyche, Vol. 2 No. 27.

Bergman, Paul, M.D. and Escalona, Sibylle K., M.D. (1949). “Unusual Sensitivities in Very Young Children.” The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, Vol. II, pp. 333-352.

Byrd, Debra. Earth and Sky (syndicated radio program). "Noisy Auroras," January 12, 2000, http://www.earthsky.com/2000/es000112.html.

CBS News – 60 Minutes II. “A Sixth Sense,” aired August 14, 2002. Online at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/08/60II/main323596.shtml

Cocke, Andrew. "The Science Behind Hypnosis." BrainWork (published by Charles A. Dana Foundation), Vol. 11 No. 3 (May-June 2001), p.6.

Coghlan, Andy. “How sensitivity to pain is really all in the mind.” New Scientist, June 28, 2003, p.17.

Connellan, Thomas Ph.D. Bringing Out the Best in Others: 3 Keys for Business Leaders, Educators, Coaches and Parents. Bard Press, 2003.

Custred, Jayne. "Migraines' Causes Only Partially Understood." Houston Chronicle, February 9, 2002, p. C1. Online at http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/1247907.html.

Cytowic, Richard E. (1995). "Synesthesia: Phenomenology and Neuropsychology." Psyche, Vol. 2 No. 10. http://www.psyche.cs.monah.edu.au/v2/psyche-2-10-cytowic.htm

Durden-Smith, Jo and deSimone, Diane. Sex and the Brain. New York: Arbor House, 1983.

“Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Improving the Treatment, Unraveling the Cause.” Facts of Life newsletter, Center for the Advancement of Health. Vol. 6, No. 8 (December 2001).

Frick U., Kharraz A., Hauser S., et al (2005). “Comparison perception of singular transcranial magnetic stimuli by subjectively electrosensitive subjects and general population controls.” Bioelectromagnetics Vol. 26, pp. 287-298.

Hartmann, Ernest. Boundaries in the Mind. New York: Basic Books, 1991.

Hartmann, Ernest. Dreams and Nightmares: The New Theory on the Origin and Meaning of Dreams. New York: Plenum Trade, 1998.

Hauck, Dennis William. Haunted Places: The National Directory. New York: Penguin Books, 1996.

Heller, Sharon, Ph.D. Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What To Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World. New York: Harper-Collins, 2002.

Hollingham, Richard. “In the realm of your senses.” New Scientist, January 31, 2004, pp. 40-43.

Hornik, Susan. “For Some, Pain is Orange.” Smithsonian, February 2001, pp. 48-56. http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues01/feb01/synesthesia.html.

Houran, James and Lange, Rense (1996a). "Diary of Events in a Thoroughly Unhaunted House." Perceptual and Motor Skills, Vol. 83, pp. 499-502.

Houran, James and Lange, Rense (1996b). "Hauntings and Poltergeist-Like Episodes As a Confluence of Conventional Phenomena: A General Hypothesis." Perceptual and Motor Skills, Vol. 83, pp. 1307-1316.

Irwin, Harvey J. (1996). “Childhood Antecedents of Out-of-Body and Déjà Vu Experiences.” Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, Vol. 90, No. 3, pp. 157-172.

Irwin, Harvey J. (1992). “Origins and Functions of Paranormal Belief: The Role of Childhood Trauma and Interpersonal Control.” Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, Vol. 86, No. 3, pp. 199-208.

Karmaus W, Arshad H, Mattes J. (2001). “Does the sibling effect have its origin in utero? Investigating birth order, cord blood IgE concentration, and allergic sensitization at age four.” American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 154 No. 10 , pp. 909-915.

Khamsi, Roxanne. “Plastic brains help the blind place sounds.” News@Nature.com, January 25, 2005. http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050124/full/050124-6.html

Lambert-Nehr, Cynthia. “Ease the Agony of Migraines.” Detroit News, June 18, 2003, p. H6.

Lance, James W. Migraines and Other Headaches. East Roseville, New South Wales, Australia: Simon and Schuster, 1998.

Leone, Bruno, Ed. Paranormal Phenomena: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1997, p. 93.

Lynn, S.J. and Rhue, J.W. (1988). “Fantasy proneness: hypnosis, developmental antecedents, and psychopathology.” American Psychologist, Vol. 44, pp. 35-44.

Martin, Paul. The Healing Mind. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997, pp. 46-47.

Mertz, H., Morgan V., Tanner G., et al (2000). “Regional Cerebral Activation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.” Gastroenterology Vol. 118 No 5, pp. 842-848.

“Migraine: Prevention and Treatment More Effective Than Most Realize.” Facts of Life newsletter, Center for the Advancement of Health. Vol. 7, No. 1 (February 2002).

Mlot, Christine. “Probing the Biology of Emotion.” Science, Vol. 280 (May 15, 1998, pp. 1005-1007.

Moreno-Davis, Evan. “Synesthesia: What Happens When Our Senses Get Their Wires Crossed?” http://www.neuroscience.pomona.edu/Evan/

National Public Radio (WAMU-FM), The Diane Rehm Show, March 6, 2000.

O'Neill, Sean. "A Striking Mystery." Washington Post, July 29, 2003, p. F1.

Ross, Colin A. M.D. and Joshi, Shaun (1992). “Paranormal Experiences in the General Population.” Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Vol. 180. No. 6, pp. 357-361.

Schauffhausen, Joanna, “Migraine Maladies.” ABCNews.com, January 27, 2004

Shallis, Michael. The Electric Connection. New York: New Amsterdam Books, 1988, p. 9-10.

Smith, Jillyn. Senses and Sensibilities. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1989.

Stokes, Douglas M. The Nature of Mind. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 1997, p. 171.

Tellegen, Auke and Atkinson, Gilbert (1974). “Openness to Absorbing and Self-Altering Experiences (‘Absorption’), a Trait Related to Hypnotic Susceptibility.” Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Vol. 83 No. 3, pp. 268-277.

Terr, Lenore C., M.D. (1991). “Childhood Traumas: An Outline and Overview.” American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 148 No. 1, pp. 10-20.

Thalbourne, Michael A. (2000). "Transliminality: A Review." International Journal of Parapsychology, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 1-34.

Thalbourne, M.A., Houran, J., Alias, A.G. and Brugger, P. (2001). “Transliminality, brain function, and synesthesia.” Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Vol. 189, pp. 190-192.

Velle, Weiert (1987). "Sex Differences in Sensory Functions." Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 490-522.

Watson, Lyall. Lifetide: The Biology of the Unconscious. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1979, pp. 213-214.

Wilson, Sheryl C. and Barber, Theodore X. “The Fantasy-Prone Personality: Implications for Understanding Imagery, Hypnosis, and Parapsychological Phenomena.” In Anees A. Sheikh (Ed.), Imagery: Current Theory, Research and Application. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1983 (pp. 340-387).

Metadata

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Cogprints is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.