title: Environmental Sensitivity: Inquiry Into a Possible Link with Apparitional Experience
creator: Jawer, Michael
subject: Perceptual Cognitive Psychology
description: Psi researchers often use the term ‘sensitivity’ when theorizing that certain persons may be more apt to register anomalous influences than others.  Through a review of the literature, it is argued that some individuals are disposed toward a range of innate sensitivities that, in novelty as well as intensity, distinguish them from the general population.  It is hypothesized that such persons will exhibit greater susceptibility to a range of environmental factors including allergies, migraine headache, chronic pain and chronic fatigue.  Furthermore, it is suggested that sensitive individuals will report a higher than average degree of psi perception as well as apparent electromagnetic influence.  Through a 54-item survey designed by the author, the following issues are evaluated: the extent to which persons who describe themselves as ‘sensitive’ appear to be affected by such factors; whether their immediate family members may be similarly affected; to what extent environmental sensitivity parallels apparitional experience; and how such findings compare or contrast with questions asked of a control group.  Based on both the literature and the survey results, the author argues that sensitivity is a bona fide neurobiological phenomenon.  While no single factor in a person's background is likely to distinguish him/her as ‘sensitive,’ eight demographic or personality factors are found to be statistically significant.  If further studies were to document similar results, a more tangible basis would be provided for the study of apparitional experience than has been possible to date. 
publisher: Society for Psychical Research
contributor: Roe Ph.D., Christopher
date: 2006-01
type: Journal (Paginated)
type: PeerReviewed
format: application/pdf
identifier: http://cogprints.org/4846/1/Environ_Sensitivity_Paper_-_in_JSPR.pdf
format: other
identifier: http://cogprints.org/4846/2/Environmental_Sensitivity_Paper_-_final_in_JSPR.DOC
identifier:   Jawer, Michael  (2006) Environmental Sensitivity: Inquiry Into a Possible Link with Apparitional Experience.  [Journal (Paginated)]     
relation: http://cogprints.org/4846/