Abstract

Subjects (N= 413) completed the Anomalous Experiences Inventory (AEI) (Kumar, Pekala, & Gallagher, 1994) and the Dissociative Experi­ences Scale (Carlson & Putnam, 1992). Subjects then experienced the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (Shor & Orne, 1962). The results indicated that high susceptibles endorsed significantly more paranormal experience and ability items than low susceptibles, thus rep­licating prior research. Cluster analysis of low and high susceptible sub­jects' responses to the AEI revealed several different subclusters of subjects for the AEI as a function of use of drugs/alcohol and fear of the anomalous/paranormal. Regression analyses and three-dimensional vis­ual analyses suggested that dissociative ability and hypnotizability are both important in predicting who will report experiencing spontaneous paranormal and anomalous experiences, with dissociative ability being somewhat more important. The importance of these two individual differences variables for understanding reported anomalous and paranormal experiences is discussed.