ENVIRONMENTALSENSITIVITYINQUIRYINTO-Cogprints.docVIP

ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY: INQUIRY INTO A POSSIBLE LINK WITH APPARITIONAL EXPERIENCE by Michael Jawer Abstract 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, and that they will also report a higher than average degree of psi perception as well as apparent electromagnetic influence. A 54-item survey was designed by the author and completed by 112 individuals (62 self-described sensitives and 50 controls), to evaluate the following issues: 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 replies to questions asked of a control group. On the basis of 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 or 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. Introduction Psi researchers often use the word ‘sensitivity’ when theorizing that certain persons may be more readily affected by anomalous influences than others (e.g. Cornell, 2000). But what does it mean to be sensiti