Citation

In  this study, approximately one thousand cases of spontaneous psychic  experiences were analyzed to find out what range of forms the  experiences more commonly took. Four main types were found: (1)  Intuitive, in which the subject’s experience was a simple, unreasoned  impression or hunch. (2) Hallucinatory, in which the experience was  projected as if it were a sensation. (3)

Unrealistic  dreaming, in which the experience was characterized by fantasy. (4)  Realistic dreaming, in which the imagery was almost photographically  realistic. Groups (1) and (2) occurred only in the waking state.

The  fact that these four types are common in mental life and are not  peculiar to psychic experiences is of importance in understanding the  process. The classification introduces new questions, such, for example,  as what part personality differences may play in determining the form  which a spontaneous experience will take.

It  appears that the main act of acquiring the knowledge occurs on the  unconscious level and the form the impression will take in consciousness  represents the mental device or “mechanism” by which knowledge of the  stimulus event is carried over the threshold. Some act of selective  judgment is inferred to occur below the level of consciousness. ---Ed.