Abstract

A large number of spontaneous cases from the Duke Case Collection was examined for evidence of some principle which could account for their range of subject matter. Many experiences concerned crises involving persons to whom the E-person was emotionally attached. On that account the main emphasis of the study was to see the extent to which anxiety, conscious or unconscious, could have been a factor. All the cases used were of one classification, the realistic form, which is characterized by detailed imagery. They included both contemporary and precognitive types. These cases were examined to see the range of relationship between the experiencing person (E-person) and the target person or event (T-person), and to see the importance of the occurrence to the E-person. The persons most closely concerned in the various relationships were: (1) the E-person himself, (2) those persons in his immediate circle, (3) those in remote relationships, and (4) strangers. The importance of events was roughly estimated under headings (A) Death, (B) Accident, (C) Other Important Events, (D) Trivial Events. Although the number of cases in (1) was second only to (2), over 1/4 of all still fell into (3) and (4). Cases involving a crisis for the T-person (mainly A and B) made up only a little over 1/2 the total, while more than 10% were about D. Anxiety might have been the cause of experiences concerning critical topics involving the E-person himself or those in his immediate circle, but it could not explain those involving strangers or unimportant topics on any level of relationship. For these at least, an influence as broad and general as simple interest in, and curiosity about, the world in general seems indicated.