The Intuitive Process: an Investigation of Personal and Transpersonal Aspects Using Hypnosis.

Abstract

After reviewing the concept of intuition as seen in the philosophical and psychological literature, this study offers a theoretical analysis of the intuitive process based on Jungian and transpersonal psychological theory. This theoretical underst and ing then is examined in the light of research data provided by fifteen subjects. Subjects were given the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, the Gray-Wheelwright Jungian Typology Scale, and an "Intuitive Experience Questionnaire" which in addition to measuring intuitive experiences of different types measured lifestyle variables which might affect intuitive experience. Correlations between lifestyle measures, intuitive experiences and hypnotic susceptibility are reported. After they completed the questionnaires, subjects were trained in hypnosis and then shown how to use hypnosis to increase awareness of intuitive input. Intuitive experiences occurring outside the experimental situation were recorded in an "Intuition Diary". The dissertation provides a case-by-case study of the intuitive experiences reported by the subjects, and suggests implications of such experiences for the theoretical model of intuition developed as part of the study. Intuition is defined as "that process by which consciousness encounters the Self." Three different classes of intuitive experiences are described: (1) reorganization of existing information into a new pattern; (2) encounter with facts previously unknown to the subject; and (3) encounter with symbolic experiences of an ultimately transformational character. Examples of the first two classes of intuitive experiences are drawn from the data. The data provide no examples of the third class. The primary responsibility for this result arises from the nature of the research design and the attempt to elicit intuitions which are "provable" in light of other experience. Hypnosis is of some value in increasing receptivity to intuitive experiences, but of no value in inducing such experiences. There is no statistical correlation between hypnotic susceptibility and intuition, and the qualitative data supports this lack of relationship.