Abstract

Measured the extent to which Ss were able to unconsciously detect another person covertly staring at them from a distance. This study was a replication of work conducted by W. Braud et al (1990). A video camera was focused on the S while a person in another room (the observer) concentrated on the image of the S as displayed on a color monitor. This procedure was used to preclude any direct sensory contact between the 2 participants; the Ss were unaware of when they were being observed. A microprocessor controlled the experiment, recording and averaging the skin conductance level (SCL) of the S during a random sequence of 30-sec periods in which the video monitor was either activated or shut off. There were 16 periods of covert observation (monitor on) and 16 control periods (monitor off) per session. 39 Ss (aged 16-60 yrs) participated in a total of 48 experimental sessions. As predicted, SCL during the covert observation periods was significantly greater than during th!e control periods. 26 Ss (66.7%) showed greater SCL during observation than during the control condition; only 13 Ss (33%) showed greater SCL in the covert observation condition than in the control condition.