My Library

perceptual experience of great vividness and reality, showing not only a sense of separation of the total self from its normal location in the head but also being aware that this self exists in the same environment as the physical body, which can be clearly seen and is associated with a feeling of unusual “energy” and a desire to return to the body. As might be expected, some of the more vivid and detailed phenomenological features were overrepresented in the top 25% of the sample. For example, using independent group t-tests, the following features were more common in the top 25%: a sense of energy (df = 94, p < .0005), noises, particularly roaring noises (df = 39, p < .0005), vibrations (df = 97, p < .01), seeing the body from a distance (df = 97, p < .005), a sense of being able to pass through objects (df = 93, p < .00006), awareness of the presence of nonphysical beings (df = 96, p < .005), and seeing a brilliant light (df = 96, p < .002). These findings show some differences from the major surveys reported in the literature. For example, Crookall,31 in an analysis of anecdotal reports from 380 subjects, found a high representation of people who felt connected to their bodies by a cord, who see other apparitions during the experiences, and who demonstrate ESP during the experience, none of which were significantly represented in our population. However, some of his major findings—for example, the subject being able to see his own body from a new and spatially independent vantage point, finding himself in a form similar to his physical body, and feeling the “other body” tends to float—were supported in our study. Our findings correspond more closely with those of Celia Green,15 who found that practically none of her correspondents saw a cord.
C. IMPACT OF THE EXPERIENCE
As seen in Table 3, a majority of the subjects had remarkably positive experiences. What is striking is the use of superlative adjectives in the reports. By no means was this experience ordinary and in 60% of the sample was lifechanging. Even those who experienced the OBE as extremely frightening, or giving sensations of great power, on a Chi† test of association were not significantly related to mean scores on the Hysteroid and Psychoticism scales, suggesting that the experience itself neither occurred in particularly sick people nor had a pathological impact. 85% termed it “a very pleasant experience.” T-tests revealed, as would be expected, that those who were in a state of mental calmness at the time of the OBE experienced more positive moods both during and