The transliminal connection between paranormal effects and personality in an experiment with the I Ching

Abstract

Transliminality is currently defined as “the hypothesised tendency for psychological material to cross thresholds into or out of consciousness” (Thalbourne & Houran, 1999). It was hypothesised that transliminality represented a psychological process that might function as a connecting principle between paranormal effects and other personality variables. Ninety-three participants (mostly University of Adelaide psychology students) undertook a paranormal task with the I Ching -- an ancient Chinese form of divination -- involving the attempt to achieve a designated hexagram (six-line symbol) outcome. Each participant threw three coins, six times, to generate six lines, which were converted to a hexagram. The hexagram was then compared with 16 hexagram/descriptor-pairs pre-selected by the participant from a total of 64 hexagrams/descriptor-pairs, in accordance with the statement: “Lately, or right now, I feel . . .” If the outcome hexagram matched one of the 16 designated hexagram/descriptor-pairs it was deemed a ‘Hit’. Participants then completed the Transliminality Scale (Form B), and Cattell’s Sixteen Personality Factor (16PF) Questionnaire. Hitting rates for the whole sample and previous users of the I Ching, were both marginally significant. Hitting correlated significantly with Transliminality, and a number of 16PF factors, such as social boldness and extraversion. Transliminality correlated significantly with a number of personality factors and sheep-goat questions. Multiple regression analysis and path analysis were applied. Number of changing lines (generated by coin throws of three-of-a-kind) was another measure of psi performance, and correlated significantly with a number of 16PF factors. It was suggested that two ‘psi-able’ types (persons with ostensible paranormal ability) were present in the sample -- one was socially bold (with a 50% hitting rate), the other was highly transliminal (with a 40% hitting rate), where MCE = 25%.