Psychical EES/EHES Record Type: Review   ID: 610
Altered States of Consciousness and PSI: An Historical Survey and Research Prospectus Kelly, Edward F. & Locke, Ralph G.
"This is a survey and prologue to a more systematic study of altered states of consciousness as the royal road to psi. We seek a broader perspective than can be obtained from within the modern research tradition. We will systematically extend our search not only far back into our own psychical research traditions, but also into historical and comparative studies of religions and the vast literature primarily from cultural anthropology that deals with preliterate societies. No attempt can be made to be definitive or exhaustive here. Rather, we must rely on just a few of the pertinent examples in order to indicate the apparent scope and depth of the association between altered states and psi both historically and cross-culturally. Our primary concern is perspective. The following subject areas are covered: the work of early psychical researchers in the area of trance mediumship and hypnosis; psi phenomena and various unusual states of consciousness associated with religious traditions; anthropological studies of various altered states of consciousness (and how to induce them) with which claims of psi are associated. A research prospectus is provided, including an outline of a cross-cultural survey of ASC induction techniques with the aim of bringing these states within reach of systematic investigation in the laboratory. The hope is that they will lead to major new sources of strong psi effects. Several appendices outline a framework for cross-cultural analysis of altered states and psi, a preliminary model of same, and a brief discussion of additional steps to be taken in using the model as a tool for analysis of the anthropological material on ASCs and psi."
Publisher Information:	(Parapsychological Monographs No. 18) New York: Parapsychology Foundation, 1981. 91p. 180 refs

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