PSI AND THE SPECTRUM OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Humanistic and transpersonal psychology seek the highest in human pote ntial. Do psychic phenomena have a place in this quest, and can paraps ychology aid in understanding the role of these phenomena? The contemp lative or mystical traditions view psychic phenomena as consequences o f higher development, yet tend to see these phenomena as by-products o f the spiritual path rather than as goals. Parapsychologists, on the o ther hand, have observed these phenomena in animals, children, and the mentally ill, as well as in individuals with normal adult ego develop ment. They have often seen psychic abilities as need-motivated and as developmentally and evolutionarily primitive. This paper reviews the e vidence that psychic phenomena occur across the entire spectrum of con sciousness. It discusses methodological issues relevant to understandi ng the place of psi, including experiments, and narrative and longitud inal approaches to experiences and meaning.