Greyson, B. (1985). A typology of near-death experiences. American Journal of Psychiatry, 142(8) 967-969.

Abstract: Cluster analysis of 89 near-death experiences yielded three discrete types of such experiences: transcendental, affective, and cognitive. Demographic variables did not differentiate individuals having these different types of experiences, but cognitive near-death experiences were less frequent following anticipated near-death events.

Copyright: © 1985. Reprinted with permission of American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.

Link: http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/

Topics:
Definition of NDEs
Methodology in NDE Research

Siegel, R. K. (1980). The psychology of life after death. American Psychologist, 35(1) 911-931.

Abstract: Traditionally, people’s concern with an afterlife has been of interest only to philosophy and religion. The recent explosion of popular articles and books about life after death has now reached the medical and psychiatric journals, in which “scientific” reports cite evidence from survivors of clinical death and from deathbed visions of terminal patients, among other sources of data. This article critically reviews the evidence in light of ethological, anthropological and psychological findings. The similarity of afterlife visions to drug-induced hallucinations invites a rational framework for their experimental analysis. From observations of animals burying their dead, through awareness of the seasonal rebirth of nature, to recognition of inherited characteristics, early homosapiens developed the concept of life after death in an effort to explain these behaviors and their underlying feelings. Cross-cultural studies confirm that the experiences of dying and visiting “the other side” involve universal elements and themes that are predictable and definable. These phenomena arise from common structures in the brain and nervous system, common biological experiences, and common reactions of the central nervous system to stimulation. The resultant experience can be interpreted as evidence that people survive death, but it may be more easily understood as a dissociative hallucinatory activity of the brain.

Copyright: © 1980 by the American Psychological Association. Reproduced with permission.

Link: http://www.apa.org/psycarticles

Topics:
Afterlife, Belief in
Afterlife, NDErs’ Descriptions of
Cross-Cultural NDEs
Definition of NDEs
Explanations of NDEs—Physiological, Neurological, Brain
Explanations of NDEs NOS
Language and NDEs
Psychopathology and NDEs—Hallucinations
Reincarnation and NDEs
Science and NDEs

Ousley, J. D. (1978). Possible evidence for life after death. Anglican Theological Review, 60(3) 259-277.

Abstract: Raymond Moody's best-selling book, Life After Life, presents a number of reports of 'near-death experiences' which have been said to prove that there is a “life' after this life. The experiences are described (I), and their unusual characteristics are discussed (II). For example, they represent a basically new phenomenon, resulting from modern medicine's ability to 'bring back' people who are clinically dead. But, looked at scientifically, philosophically and theologically, do the reports of near-death experiences constitute evidence for life after death, and does this evidence provide conclusive proof of continued personal existence after death? It is argued that the logical peculiarities of the evidence count against it (III), but there could be compelling grounds for accepting the reports as good scientific evidence (IV). Still, scientists might on balance decide to wait for further data before saying the reports actually constituted proof of 'life after life' (V). The evidence is then considered from a philosophical perspective (VI): concepts such as 'spiritual body' are analyzed, the possibility of new kinds of evidence is discussed, and it is argued that Moody's evidence can neither be dismissed out of hand nor said to warrant extravagant claims about another realm of being. Finally, the near-death experiences are related specifically to Christian belief (VII). For example, while the experiences might appear to support Christian doctrines of eternal life, one could still accept these doctrines and dismiss the evidence, or reject the doctrines and find the evidence credible; thus there is no necessary connection between the reports and Christian doctrine. It is then concluded (VIII) that while the reports are of great interest, the most sensible scientific approach would be a ”wait-and-see' attitude—an approach which might well be shared by philosophers, and even theologians, who will question whether the reports could ever constitute a proof of the Christian belief that there is a life after this life which shares the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Copyright: © 1978. Reprinted with permission of the Anglican Theological Review.

Link: http://www.AnglicanTheologicalReview.org

Topics:
Aftereffects of NDEs—Sense of Self, Psychological and Physical
Aftereffects of NDEs NOS
Afterlife, Belief in
Altered States and NDEs
Characteristics of NDEs—Autoscopy, Out-of-Body
Characteristics of NDEs NOS
Explanations of NDEs—Parapsychological
Explanations of NDEs—Philosophical
Explanations of NDEs—Physiological, Neurological, Brain
Language and NDEs
Methodology in NDE Research
Religion and NDEs—Christianity
Science and NDEs
Veridical Perception during NDEs

Olson, M. (1987). The out-of-body experience and other states of consciousness. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 1(3) 201-207.

Abstract: The out-of-body experience (OBE)-the feeling that one's consciousness or center of awareness is in a place different from one's physical body-seems to be a fairly frequent occurrence in the general population. Yet the description of the experience can be similar to experiences of dreams, hallucinations, depersonalization, and other states of consciousness, some healthy and some pathologic. This article. based on current literature. compares the characteristics or the OBE with a number of these states. and reviews several current theories of the generation of OBE.

Copyright: Elsevier 1987.

Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/08839417

Topics:
Related Experiences NOS

Gow, K., Lane, A., & Chant, D. (2003). Personality characteristics, beliefs, and the near-death experience. Australian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 31(2) 128-152.

Abstract: This study attempted to address the psychological correlates of near-death experience (NDE) reports. A sample of 239 participants (30 NDE experiencers, 120 NDE believers, and 89 controls) was drawn from the general population. Participants were assessed on the variables of fantasy proneness, paranormal beliefs, spiritual beliefs, and the intuition and feeling personality dimensions of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. NDE experiencers were assessed separately on the NDE Scale, and experiencers’ qualitative accounts of the NDE were also assessed. Experiencers differed significantly from controls on the variables of fantasy proneness, as measured by the Inventory of Childhood Memories and Imaginings, and paranormal beliefs, as measured by the Paranormal Beliefs Scale. The findings showed that experiencers and believers differed significantly on feeling preference of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Believers differed significantly from controls on all of the variables.

Copyright: © 2003. Reprinted with permission of the Australian Journal of Clinical And Experimental Hypnosis.

Link: http://www.ozhypnosis.com.au/journal.html

Topics:
Accounts of NDEs—Autobiographical
Aftereffects of NDEs—Orientation to Death
Aftereffects of NDEs—Paranormal Phenomena
Aftereffects of NDEs—Religion
Aftereffects of NDEs—Sense of Self, Psychological and Physical
Aftereffects of NDEs NOS
Afterlife, Belief in
Characteristics of NDErs—Age, Adults
Characteristics of NDErs—Education Level
Characteristics of NDErs—Gender
Characteristics of NDErs—Occupation
Characteristics of NDErs—Psychic Abilities
Characteristics of NDErs—Psychological Profile
Characteristics of NDErs—Religious Affiliations
Characteristics of NDErs—Socioeconomic Status
Characteristics of NDErs NOS
Characteristics of NDEs—Emotions, Distressing
Characteristics of NDEs—Emotions, Pleasurable
Characteristics of NDEs—Encountering Beings, Deceased or Living
Characteristics of NDEs—Light, Mystical
Characteristics of NDEs—Parapsychological Phenomena, Precognition
Characteristics of NDEs—Perception of Time
Characteristics of NDEs—Return, Voluntary
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Kinesthetic
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory NOS
Characteristics of NDEs—Tunnel Experiences
Circumstances of NDEs—Accident
Circumstances of NDEs—Illness
Disclosure of NDEs
Methodology in NDE Research
Non-NDErs' Attitudes toward NDEs