Out-of-Body Experiences : Out-of-Body Experiences Carlos S. Alvarado, Ph.D.
Atlantic University
Selected OBE Research Work: Carlos S. Alvarado & Nancy L. Zingrone : Selected OBE Research Work: Carlos S. Alvarado & Nancy L. Zingrone (1998-1999) A study of the features of out-of-body experiences in relation to Sylvan Muldoon’s claims. European Journal of Parapsychology
Alvarado, C.S., & Zingrone, N.L. (1998-1999). A study of the features of out-of-body experiences in relation to Sylvan Muldoon’s claims. European Journal of Parapsychology.
Alvarado, C.S., Zingrone, N.L., & Dalton, K. (1998-1999). Out-of-body experiences: Alterations of consciousness and the Five-Factor Model of personality. Imagination, Cognition and Personality.
Alvarado, C.S., & Zingrone, N.L. (1999). Out-of-body experiences among readers of a Spanish New Age Magazine. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research.
Alvarado, C.S., & Zingrone, N.L. (2003). Exploring the factors related to the aftereffects of out-of-body experiences. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research.
Zingrone, N.L., Alvarado, C.S., & Cardeña, E. (2010). Out-of-body experiences, physical body activity and posture: Responses from a Survey conducted in Scotland. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Terms : Terms Out-of-body experience
Astral projection
Astral travels
Doubling
Bilocation
Ecsomatic experience
Extracorporeal Experience
Slide 4 :
Slide 5 :
Slide 6 :
Slide 7 :
Slide 8 :
OBE Question : Have you ever had an experience in which you felt that “you” were located “outside of” or “away from” your physical body; that is, the feeling that your consciousness, mind, or center of awareness was at a different place than your physical body? OBE Question
Cases : Cases
Slide 11 : Pliny. The Natural History of Pliny (Vol. 2, Bostock & H. T. Riley, trans.) London: George Bell, 1890. (Originally published between 70 and 79 CE) “With reference to the soul of man,
“With reference to the soul of man, we find, among
other instances, that the soul of Hermotinus of
Clazomenae was in the habit of leaving his body,
and wandering into distant countries, whence it
brought back numerous accounts of various things,
which could not have been obtained by any one
but a person who was present. The body, in the
meantime, was left apparently lifeless …
At last, however, his enemies … burned the body,
so that the soul, on its return, was deprived of its
heath, as it were” (p. 210) 17th Century edition of
Pliny’s Work
Old Discussions of Out-of-Body Experiences : Old Discussions of Out-of-Body Experiences Jung-Stilling, J.H. (1851). Theory of Pneumatology.
(First published in German, 1808).
D’Assier, A. (1887). Posthumous Humanity. (First published in
French, 1883)
Bozzano, E. (1911). Considerations et hypothéses sur les
phénomènes de bilocation. Annales des Sciences
Psychiques (Expanded book-length in 1934)
Mattiesen, E. (1931). Des austritt des Ich als spiritisches Argument.
Zeitschrift fur Parapsychologie. Ernesto Bozzano
(1862-1943) Emil Mattiesen (1875-1939)
Historical Aspects of OBE Research and Theory:Carlos S. Alvarado, Ph.D. : Historical Aspects of OBE Research and Theory:Carlos S. Alvarado, Ph.D. (2011). On doubles and excursions from the physical body, 1876-1956. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 25, 561-578.
(2009). Early and modern developments in the psychological approach to out-of-body experiences. In C.D. Murray (Ed.), Psychological Scientific Perspectives on Out-of-Body and Near-Death Experiences (pp. 1-22). New York: Nova Science.
(2009). The spirit in out-of-body experiences: Historical and conceptual notes. In B. Batey (Ed.), Spirituality, Science and the Paranormal (pp. 3-19). Bloomfield, CT: Academy of Spirituality and Paranormal Studies.
(2005). Ernesto Bozzano and the phenomena of bilocation.
Journal of Near-Death Studies, 23, 207-238.
We Can Learn About Out-of-Body Experiences Through: : We Can Learn About Out-of-Body Experiences Through: Personal explorations
(Robert Monroe, Journeys Out of the Body, 1971)
Surveys
(N.L. Zingrone, C.S. Alvarado & E. Cardeña. (2010). Out-of-body experiences, physical body activity and posture: Responses from a survey conducted in Scotland. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. Case collections
(Celia Green, Out-of-the-Body Experiences, 1968)
Experiments
(C.T. Tart (1968) A psychophysiological study of out-of-the body experiences in a selected subject. Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research)
Prevalence of Out-of-Body Experiences in Studies Using Randomly Selected Samples : Prevalence of Out-of-Body Experiences in Studies Using Randomly Selected Samples Researcher Country Group N %
Haraldsson
et al (1977) Iceland Residents 863 8
Institutet för
marknadsunder-
sökninger (1978) Sweden Residents 751 6 or 10*
Palmer (1979) US Residents 354 14
Murray (1983) Phillipines Residents capital city -- 10
Blackmore (1984) England Residents Bristol 320 12
Ohayon (2000) United Kingdom
Germany
Italy Residents 13,057 6
Alvarado, Zingrone US Residents 253 38
& Agee
Zingrone, Alvarado, US Residents 261 37
& Agee
N = 8; Range=6-38; Mean = 16%; Median = 11 / *Depending on definition used.
Estimate of Out-of-Body Experiences in the US Population : Estimate of Out-of-Body Experiences in the US Population Population: 313,232,044*
16%: 50, 117, 127
10%: 31, 323, 204
5%: 15, 661, 602
1%: 3, 132, 320
(http://www.indexmundi.com/united_states/demographics_profile.html)
*Projection for July 2011
Slide 17 :
Characteristics of Out-of-Body Experiences : Characteristics of Out-of-Body Experiences Movement
Sensation of leaving the body
Traveling
Auditory perceptions
Conversations
Strange sounds
Physical sensations
Vibrations/sense of energy
Shock to the physical body upon return to the body Visual Perceptions
Seeing friends and acquaintances in other places while out
Seeing one’s own body
Emotions
Peace
Happiness
Features of OBEs in Students at Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (250 participants, 31 OBEs)* : Features of OBEs in Students at Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (250 participants, 31 OBEs)* Feature Percentage
Saw physical body 53%
Went to place away from physical body 31%
Obtained information 25%
Saw link with body 20%
Influenced things and people 18%
*J.F. Brelaz de Castro (1998). Experiencias fuera del cuerpo: Una encuesta sobre estudiantes universitarios en Brasil. Revista Argentina de Psicologia Paranormal. Jalmir Freire Brelaz de Castro
Frequent OBE Features (Scotland OBE Study) : Frequent OBE Features (Scotland OBE Study) ________________________________________________________________________
Feature N Percentage
________________________________________________________________________
Floating sensations 78 71%
Stayed in usual surroundings 74 69%
Saw physical body 81 65%
Saw surroundings from above 81 63%
Sensation of rising leaving
body 81 56%
Could not move physical body
before OBE 75 35%
Aware of sensations of
returning to body 79 35%
Aware of sensations of leaving
body 84 33%
Saw lights around or at a
distance 80 33%
Infrequent OBE Features (Scotland OBE Study) : Infrequent OBE Features (Scotland OBE Study) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Feature N Percentage
____________________________________________________________________________________
Consciousness oscillated
between OB location
and physical body 80 1%
Saw ray of light, cord, ribbon
or rope connecting OB
self to physical body 83 2%
Heard clicking or snapping
sounds 77 3%
Saw images of events or actions
of person’s earlier life 80 3%
Sensation of falling leaving body 74 4%
Could see around corners 71 4%
Heard music 83 4%
Sensation of second OBE
while OB 82 5%
Veridical Incidents Reported During an OBEs : Veridical Incidents Reported During an OBEs Information Obtained
(Travelling to other locations / Other)
Seen as an Apparition
Case of Al Sullivan Investigated by Bruce Greyson: 56 Year-Old truck Driver, Left Body During Heart Surgery : Case of Al Sullivan Investigated by Bruce Greyson: 56 Year-Old truck Driver, Left Body During Heart Surgery “I was able to see my surgeon . . . I thought he was flapping his arms as if trying to fly.” To keep gloves sterile the surgeon had the habit of putting his hands on his chest and flap his elbows pointing out things. The surgeon could not confirm that he had flapped his arms on this instance but said this was a regular habit of his.
Circumstances During Which OBEs Occur : Circumstances During Which OBEs Occur Relaxation
Meditation
Resting
Sleeping
Falling Asleep
Drugs
Spontaneous____________________________Voluntary Induction
Accidents
Physical Abuse
Surgery
Illness
Near death
Physical Activity
Tension
Circumstances of OBE OccurrenceAlvarado & Zingrone (Unpublished Bial Funded Depersonalization Study) : Circumstances of OBE OccurrenceAlvarado & Zingrone (Unpublished Bial Funded Depersonalization Study) Web Sample
Circumstance N = 53
During sleep 30%
During prayer or meditation 17%
Waking up 15%
Just before going to sleep 5.7%
Emotional state 5.7%
Routine activities 5.7%
Exhaustion 3.8%
Resting 3.8%
Activities requiring attention 3.8%
Drugs/medication 3.8%
Voluntary induction 3.8%
Physical crisis 1.9%
Comparison of OBE Features in Near-Death vs. Non-Near-Death Circumstances Following Gabbard et al. (1981) : Comparison of OBE Features in Near-Death vs. Non-Near-Death Circumstances Following Gabbard et al. (1981) Feature Near Death (N) Non Near-Death (N)
Saw physical body 86% (21)* 57 (56)*
Passed through dark tunnel,
enclosure, or place when leaving 28% (18) 16% (57)
Heard sounds when leaving 33% (18) 25 (54)
Saw lights 55 (20)** 25% (56)**
Saw spiritual entities
or beings 25% (20) 15% (53)
*p = .01; ** p = .01
Alvarado, C.S. (2001). Features of out-of-body experiences in relation to perceived closeness to death. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.
OBE Cases During Physical Activity : OBE Cases During Physical Activity Muldoon & Carrington (1951)
Nurse assisting in surgical operation. Physical body continued working.
Green (1968)
Riding a bycicle. Physical body kept peddling.
Crookall (1978)
Saw physical body dancing.
Alvarado (2000)
Police officer sees herself from above capturing suspect.
Changes in Attitudes and Beliefs After an OBE:Alvarado & Zingrone (2003). Exploring the factors related to the aftereffects of out-of-body experiences. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research. : Changes in Attitudes and Beliefs After an OBE:Alvarado & Zingrone (2003). Exploring the factors related to the aftereffects of out-of-body experiences. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research. Change Percent Sense of Identity
Meaning of Life
Meaning of Death
Nature of Human Beings
God, Religion
Property
Society 61
51
51
42
39
21
15
OBEs from Survey Studies Associated with: : OBEs from Survey Studies Associated with: *Lucid Dreams
*Dream Recall
*Absorption Experiences
*Dissociative Experiences
*Hypnotic Susceptibility
*Fantasy Proneness
*Parapsychological Experiences
Correlations Between OBEs and Dream and Psi Experience Variables Alvarado & Zingrone (2007-2008). Interrelationships of Parapsychological Experiences , Dream Recall and Lucid Dreams in a Survey with Predominantly Spanish Participants. Imagination, Cognition and Personality. : Correlations Between OBEs and Dream and Psi Experience Variables Alvarado & Zingrone (2007-2008). Interrelationships of Parapsychological Experiences , Dream Recall and Lucid Dreams in a Survey with Predominantly Spanish Participants. Imagination, Cognition and Personality. Variable Spearman r
Dream Recall .071
Lucid Dreams .325*
ESP Dreams .202*
Waking ESP .227*
Apparitions .342*
Auras .324*
*Significant at the .001 level, after correction for multiple analyses.
OBEs and Scores in Tellegen’s Absorption Scale* : OBEs and Scores in Tellegen’s Absorption Scale* 16 Studies
12 Studies with Significant Positive Relations
4 Studies with Non-Significant Relations
Stouffer’s z = 10.53, p < .001, es = .41
*Alvarado, C.S. (2000). Out-of-body experiences. In E. Cardeña, S.J. Lynn, & S. Krippner (Eds.), Varieties of Anomalous Experiences.
Based on lower estimates. The r is based on the Fisher’s zr transformation (Rosenthal, 1991). For two non-significant studies with no information z values of 0 were used.
A. Parra (2009-2010).Out-of-Body Experiences and Hallucinatory Experiences: A Psychological Approach. Imagination, Cognition and Personality. : A. Parra (2009-2010).Out-of-Body Experiences and Hallucinatory Experiences: A Psychological Approach. Imagination, Cognition and Personality. Instrument OBE Yes OBE No
Tellegen’s Absorption Scale 30.20 23.31**
Creative Experiences Scale 40.80 31.40**
Schizotypal Personality
Questionnaire: Cognitive Perceptual 10.41 7.17**
Schizotypal Personality
Questionnaire: Interpersonal 7.50 8.12*
Schizotypal Personality
Questionnaire: Disorganized 6.04 5.39*
*p < .05; p < .001
Spearman Correlations Between OBEs and Satisfaction with Life, Hallucinations and Synesthesia Alvarado & Zingrone (unpublished depersonalization Bial funded study) : Spearman Correlations Between OBEs and Satisfaction with Life, Hallucinations and Synesthesia Alvarado & Zingrone (unpublished depersonalization Bial funded study) Study 1 (N) Study 2 (N)
Variable Random Sample Web Sample
Satisfaction with Life Scale .05 (253) -.01 (52)
Launay-Slade Hallucination
Scale .31 (43) .37 (524)*
Seeing colors while hearing sounds,
music, voices .52 (253)* .49 (520)*
Seeing colors while seeing, hearing,
or thinking about letters and numbers .55 (250)* .54 (521)*
*p < .0001
Relationship Between OBEs and Scores in the Dissociative Experiences Scale : Relationship Between OBEs and Scores in the Dissociative Experiences Scale Study OBE Yes OBE No r p
Richards (1991) ---------- ---------- .37 <.001
Alvarado &
Zingrone (1997) 30.33 18.05 <.001
Parra (2009-2010) 28.06 22.69 <.001
OBEs and Scores in the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (CDS)Alvarado & Zingrone (Unpublished Bial funded depersonalization study) : OBEs and Scores in the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (CDS)Alvarado & Zingrone (Unpublished Bial funded depersonalization study) Study & Scale OBEs No OBEs p
Study 1: Random Sample
Whole CDS 31.13 13.49 < .0001
Corrected CDS (without the
OBE-like item) 29.59 13.72 < .0001
Study 2: Web Sample
Whole CDS 47.48 26.49 < .0001
Corrected CDS (without the
OBE-like item) 49.39 26.41 < .0001
OBEs and Reports of Imaginary CompanionsZingrone & Alvarado (unpublished imaginary companions Bial funded project) : OBEs and Reports of Imaginary CompanionsZingrone & Alvarado (unpublished imaginary companions Bial funded project) Study Companion Yes Companion No χ2
1
OBEs Yes 50% 34.7% 3.1
2
OBE Yes 78.9 58.7% 19.2*
*p < .0001
OBEs and the Five Factor Model of Personality (Neo-PI-R) Alvarado, Zingrone & Dalton (1998-99) : OBEs and the Five Factor Model of Personality (Neo-PI-R) Alvarado, Zingrone & Dalton (1998-99) OBE Yes OBE No
Factor N=42 N=24
Neuroticism 101.07 99.83
Extraversion 109.48 117.75
Openness 140.21 146.46*
Agreeableness 113.38 117.46
Conscientiousness 100.31 98.29
*Significant opposite to prediction
Relationship between Mean Rates of Spontaneous Alterationsof Consciousness and OBEs : Relationship between Mean Rates of Spontaneous Alterationsof Consciousness and OBEs Alteration of Consciousness OBE N=41 No OBE N=24 p
Lost awareness of surroundings
when involved in activity 4.95 4.00 .01
Lost sense of time when
involved in activity 5.12 4.50 .04
Alvarado, C.S., Zingrone, N.L., & Dalton, K. (1998-1999). Out-of-body experiences: Alterations of consciousness and the five-factor model of personality. Imagination, Cognition and Personality
OBEs in Relation to Mental Disciplines and Being Raised in Traditions of Paranormal Ability : OBEs in Relation to Mental Disciplines and Being Raised in Traditions of Paranormal Ability Variable OBE No OBE p
Practiced some form of
mental discipline 93% 38% <.0001
Raised in environment with
tradition of paranormal ability 29% 175 .43
Alvarado, C.S., Zingrone, N.L., & Dalton, K. (1998-1999). Out-of-body experiences: Alterations of consciousness and the five-factor model of personality. Imagination, Cognition and Personality
Laboratory Study Conducted by Charles T. Tart(1968). A psychophysiological study of out-of-the body experiences in a selected subject. Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research. : Laboratory Study Conducted by Charles T. Tart(1968). A psychophysiological study of out-of-the body experiences in a selected subject. Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research.
Detection Studies Robert Morris et al. (1978). Studies of communication during out-of-body experiences. Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research : Detection Studies Robert Morris et al. (1978). Studies of communication during out-of-body experiences. Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research
Slide 42 :
Explanations : Explanations All in the Mind Something Goes Out
All is in the Mind: Hallucinations Caused by Different Factors-1 : All is in the Mind: Hallucinations Caused by Different Factors-1 Palmer (1978)
OBEs caused by a threat to identity that causes alterations in the body image. The OBE is part of an unconscious process to try to restore the usual sense of identity.
Blackmore (1984)
The mind is seen as a generator of models of reality. The ususal
model may change due to variations in sensory input,
the effects of stress, and other factors, making
it necessary for the organism to construct another model using memory and imagination. Susan J. Blackmore
All is in the Mind: Hallucinations Caused by Different Factors-2 : All is in the Mind: Hallucinations Caused by Different Factors-2 Olaf Blanke and Colleagues
Temporo-Parietal Junction. Pathology.
“OBEs are related to a failure to integrate multisensory
information from one’s own body at the temporo-parietal
junction (TPJ).”
This causes “illusory reduplication, illusory self-location,
illusory perspective, and illusory agency that are
experienced an OBE.”
Blanke, O, & Arzy, S. (2004). The Out-of-Body Experience:
Disturbed. Self-Processing at the Temporo-Parietal Junction.
The Neuroscientist.
http://www.shoreline.edu/psparks/homework/OBE.pdf Olaf Blanke
All is in the Mind: Hallucinations Caused by Different Factors-2 Blanke & Brugger : All is in the Mind: Hallucinations Caused by Different Factors-2 Blanke & Brugger Peter Brugger
Autoscopy
Heautoscopy
OBE
Something Goes Out : Something Goes Out Various Concept of Subtle Bodies
Robert Crookall
Physical Body
Vehicle of Vitality
Soul Body
True Spiritual Body
Why Are OBEs Important? : Why Are OBEs Important? *They Teach us About the Variety of Human
Experiences
*They Affect our Attitudes and Values
(Transformation)
*They May Illustrate the Potential of the
Mind to Create Alternate Realities
*They May Illustrate Transcendence
-Independence of Consciousness from Body
-Survival of Death
Carlos S. Alvarado, Ph.D.Atlantic University, 215 67th StreetVirginia Beach, VA 23451 carlos.alvarado@atlanticuniv.edu : Carlos S. Alvarado, Ph.D.Atlantic University, 215 67th StreetVirginia Beach, VA 23451 carlos.alvarado@atlanticuniv.edu