People Reporting Experiences of Mediumship Have Higher Dissociation Symptom Scores Than Non-Mediums, But Below Thresholds for Pathological Dissociation
📄 Original study ↗Plain English Summary
Are people who say they communicate with the dead mentally unwell? This study of over 3,000 people tackled that question. About 42% reported mediumship experiences, most starting in childhood, with over half having family members who shared similar experiences. Researchers measured dissociation -- feeling mentally detached from yourself, like daydreaming on steroids. Mediums scored higher than non-mediums, but both groups landed well below the clinical threshold for a disorder. So mediums are more prone to these detached states, but not pathologically so. That's a big deal for anyone told their experiences are just mental illness. The catch: participants came from a consciousness research organization rather than a random sample.
Actual Paper Abstract
Background: Dissociative states exist on a continuum from nonpathological forms, such as highway hypnosis and day-dreaming, to pathological states of derealization and depersonalization. Claims of communication with deceased individuals, known as mediumship, were once regarded as a pathological form of dissociation, but current definitions recognize the continuum and include distress and functional disability as symptoms of pathology. This study examined the relationship between dissociative symptoms and mediumship in a large convenience sample.
Methods: Secondary analyses of cross-sectional survey data were conducted. The survey included demographics, the Dissociation Experience Scale Taxon (DES-T, score range 0-100), as well as questions about instances of mediumship experiences. Summary statistics and linear and logistic regressions explored the relationship between dissociative symptoms and mediumship endorsement.
Results: 3,023 participants were included and were mostly middle-aged (51 years ± 16; range 17-96), female (70%), Caucasian (85%), college educated (88%), had an annual income over $50,000 (55%), and were raised Christian (71%) but were presently described as Spiritual but not Religious (60%). Mediumship experiences were endorsed by 42% of participants, the experiences usually began in childhood (81%), and 53% had family members who reported similar experiences. The mean DES-T score across all participants was 14.4 ± 17.3, with a mean of 18.2 ± 19.3 for those claiming mediumship experiences and 11.8 ± 15.2 for those who did not (t = -10.3, p < 0.0005). The DES-T threshold score for pathological dissociation is 30.
Conclusions: On average, individuals claiming mediumship experiences had higher dissociation scores than non-claimants, but neither group exceeded the DES-T threshold for pathology. Future studies exploring dissociative differences between these groups may benefit from using more comprehensive measures of dissociative symptoms as well as assessments of functional impairment, which would help in discerning between pathological and non-pathological aspects of these experiences.
Research Notes
Largest mediumship-dissociation survey (N=3,023). Key finding: mediums score higher than non-mediums but below clinical cut-off — counters psychiatric pathologization of mediumship. Convenience sample (IONS members) limits generalizability. Part of Wahbeh's mediumship research program. Open peer review (2 approved, 1 not — Parker criticized sample bias and narrow dissociation conceptualization). Relevant to Controversy #6 (Mediumship) Con position on psychopathology.
Secondary analysis of survey data from 3,023 participants (mean age 51, 70% female, 85% Caucasian). Mediumship experiences endorsed by 42%; 81% began in childhood; 53% had family history. Mean DES-T dissociation scores: all participants 14.4, mediums 18.2±19.3, non-mediums 11.8±15.2 (t=-10.3, p < 0.0005). Both groups below clinical cut-off (30) for pathological dissociation, though 22% of mediums vs. 11% of non-mediums exceeded threshold (χ²=63.0, p < 0.0005). Mediumship claimants scored higher on all 8 DES-T items. Education and income significant covariates. Results support non-pathological model: mediums show elevated but sub-clinical dissociation.
Links
Related Papers
Companion
- A Mixed Methods Phenomenological and Exploratory Study of Channeling — Wahbeh, Helané (2018)
- Measuring Extraordinary Experiences and Beliefs: A Validation and Reliability Study — Wahbeh, Helané (2019)
- Intuitive Assessment of Mortality Based on Facial Characteristics: Behavioral, Electrocortical, and Machine Learning Analyses — Delorme, Arnaud (2018)
Same Research Program
- Exceptional Experiences Reported by Scientists and Engineers — Wahbeh, Helané (2018)
- Measuring Extraordinary Experiences and Beliefs: A Validation and Reliability Study — Wahbeh, Helané (2019)
- Future Directions in Meditation Research: Recommendations for Expanding the Field of Contemplative Science — Vieten, C (2018)
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More in Mediumship
Anomalous Information Reception by Research Mediums Under Blinded Conditions II: Replication and Extension
Electrocortical activity associated with subjective communication with the deceased
Neuroimaging during Trance State: A Contribution to the Study of Dissociation
Some Directions for Mediumship Research
Anomalous Information Reception by Research Mediums Demonstrated Using a Novel Triple-Blind Protocol
📋 Cite this paper
Wahbeh, Helané, Radin, Dean (2018). People Reporting Experiences of Mediumship Have Higher Dissociation Symptom Scores Than Non-Mediums, But Below Thresholds for Pathological Dissociation. F1000Research. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.12019.3
@article{wahbeh_2018_people,
title = {People Reporting Experiences of Mediumship Have Higher Dissociation Symptom Scores Than Non-Mediums, But Below Thresholds for Pathological Dissociation},
author = {Wahbeh, Helané and Radin, Dean},
year = {2018},
journal = {F1000Research},
doi = {10.12688/f1000research.12019.3},
}