Abstract

53 male and 147 female undergraduates were administered an ESP survey, a death anxiety scale, a hypnotic susceptibility ("absorption") scale (HS), the Wilson-Barber Inventory of Childhood Memories and Imaginings- -Children's Form (ICMIC), the Jackson Personality Inventory (JPI), and Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale (LOC). 45 Ss reported out-of-body experiences (OBEs) using the ESP survey. Of these, 33% reported having had OBEs in a life-threatening situation. Data were further analyzed using the SPSS computer programs for reliability, discriminant function analysis, and a correlational analysis. Neither sex nor age contributed significantly to the OBE, but the HS, ICMIC, LOC, several survey variables, and several JPI personality variables were significant. Results support H. J. Irwin's (1981) findings that individuals concerned with their own mental processes may be more open to the OBE. (19 ref)