On Dec 15, 2008, at 4:01 PM, ruthsimplicity wrote:
Found an interesting tidbit to add to my post: "Walrath and Hamilton (1975) reported that there is some indication that TM is related to hypnotic susceptibility. In their study, although only 44% of the non-TM volunteer subjects were rated as highly susceptible, with scores of 10 or higher on the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, 100% of the TM practitioners received scores of 11 or 12 on the Stanford Scale. Walrath and Hamilton concluded that either the practice of TM increases susceptibility to hypnosis or only highly susceptible subjects find sufficient reinforcement in the technique to continue its practice. Using the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility and the Field Depth of Hypnosis Inventory to test hypnosis, Van Nuys (1973) also found that hypnotic susceptibility correlated with subjects' initial skill at meditating." From chapter 3, the Physical and Psychological Effects of Meditation, by Murphy and Donovan. I haven't read the underlying work. My theory is that there are qualities that certain people have that make them more likely to find meditation rewarding.
Fascinating. I wonder what other meditational traditions would be like. I would think it might be similar, but who knows?
It has been shown that TMers form a certain personality profile which seem to self-select on the information in the intro lectures (and marketing materials presumably). Their personality type from the Cattell 16 PF Questionaire is Factor M (Autia). This relates to the "tendency to be 'imaginatively enthralled by inner creations', 'charmed by works of the imagination', and 'completely absorbed' in the momentum of their own thoughts, following them 'wherever they lead, for their intrinsic attractiveness and with neglect for realistic considerations' ...and a capacity to dissociate and engage in 'autonomous, self-absorbed relaxation'. High Autia scorers tend to also be unconventional, artsy and interested in spiritual matters and their theory. Also they score high on Sizothymia: cool, detached, critical and "stiff". Emotionally 'flat' and 'cautious'.
The compendium on TM claims, Meditation: In Search of a Unique Effect has a section on personality traits. Those that felt they benefitted from TM scored high in the "absorption scale" which tests for "primarily a capacity for episodes of absorbed and 'self-altering' attention that is sustained by imaginative and 'enactive' representation." Absorbers correlate strongly with hypnotic susceptibility but good absorbers have a more "flexible attentional style (with) greater mode specific cortical (EEG) patterning during selective attention."
