Abstract

Conducted a "bio-psychokinetic" experiment to determine whether target persons with a relatively strong need to be influenced (calmed) would evidence a greater psi effect than would persons without such a need. Serving as the influencers, the authors attempted to psychokinetically decrease the electrodermal activity of 32 distant target persons during certain prespecified periods as compared to an equal number of control epochs in which psychokinetic (PK) attempts were not made. 16 Ss had relatively high sympathetic nervous system activity and thus had a need to be calmed. 16 other Ss had moderate or low activity and no particular need to be calmed. A significant PK-calming effect occurred for the active (needy) Ss but not for the inactive Ss. The PK-calming effect was significantly greater for active than for inactive Ss. For comparison, a 2nd experiment was conducted on self-control of autonomic activity in 16 active Ss (a nonpsi experiment). It indicated that the magnitude of self -control did not greatly exceed the magnitude of psychic hetero-influence of autonomic activity. (24 ref)