Abstract

Analyzed the possible relationship between characteristics of guessing behavior, such as repetition avoidance, and belief in ESP, using data from 10 experiments on perceptual defensiveness and ESP performance carried out in Iceland between 1977-1991. Several commonly reported characteristics of guessing behavior were defined as variables. Test-retest reliability was shown to be highest for central preference (with regard to the row of targets on the screen) and for repetition avoidance. The data also revealed a significant test-retest reliability of ESP performance across 2 ESP tasks. Central preference and repetition avoidance did not correlate significantly with the psychological variables of neuroticism, extraversion, psychoticism, defensiveness, psi-belief, and religiosity. Specifically, the correlation between repetition avoidance and psi-belief could not be confirmed. Some degree of interaction between the 2 subjects while competing on a task is indicated, notably! positive correlations between them on psi-belief and repetition avoidance.