The effects of imagery-cultivation on phenomenological and paranormal experience

Abstract

There is evidence that imagery cultivation (IC) (Storm & Rock, 2009b) can induce a psi-conducive altered state of consciousness. However, little is known about the phenomenology (subjective experience) of psi test participants under the IC condition. This study had two main aims: (1) to determine if there is a difference between pre-IC phenomenology and post-IC phenomenology using the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI) (Pekala, 1991); and (2) to determine if there is a relationship between the PCI dimensions and psi performance. Our two other aims included investigation of psi effects and sheep–goat effects. The sample (N = 100) completed the paranormal belief/experience measure Australian Sheep–Goat Scale (ASGS) (Lange & Thalbourne, 2002), as well as the PCI twice (pre- and post-IC). Participants also underwent the IC treatment (9½ minutes of relaxation and guided imagery). After the treatment they completed a psi (precognition) task—an on-screen picture-identification task using randomly generated target sets devised by May et al. (2012). Direct hitting (at 21%, where mean chance expectation (MCE) = 20%) and mean rank score (2.87, where MCE = 3.00) were not significant, but the sum-of-ranks statistic was significant, z = –1.64, p = 0.05. Thus there was some evidence that IC is psi-conducive. Also significant was the direct hitting correlation with Absorption, and three rank-score correlations (Anger, Visual Imagery, and Volitional Control). Scores increased significantly on a number of major and minor PCI dimensions due to the IC treatment. In particular, IC induced various altered states of consciousness and increased visual imagery, with increases in vividness of those images. Sheep benefited from IC more than goats, scoring higher on direct hits (25.5%) than goats (16.7%), though rank scores were effectively the same. Sheep appeared to be affected more by IC than goats, scoring higher on one major dimension (Altered Experience) and two minor dimensions (Fear and Altered Body Image). These and other findings suggest that IC does have psychological and parapsychological influences on test participants.