Quantifying Consciousness

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxiii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   1. Introduction

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 1-8

3. The Background

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 9-9

      PDF

   2. Consciousness and Introspection

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 11-29

   3. Phenomenological Perspectives on Consciousness

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 31-52

   4. The Cognitive Revolution in Psychology

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 53-71

   5. Quantifying the Structures and Patterns of Consciousness

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 73-87

4. The Instruments

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 89-89

      PDF

   2. Development, Reliability, and Validity of the Phenomenology of Consciousness Questionnaire

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 91-111

   3. Development, Reliability, and Validity of the (Abbreviated) Dimensions of Consciousness Questionnaire

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 113-126

   4. The Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 127-143

   5. Development, Reliability, and Validity of the Dimensions of Attention Questionnaire

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 145-168

5. The Methodology

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 169-169

      PDF

   2. Graphing Devices for the Retrospective Phenomenological Assessment Instruments

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 171-203

   3. Using Retrospective Phenomenological Assessment Instruments

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 205-242

6. Applications

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 243-243

      PDF

   2. The Trait of Absorption and Subjective Experience

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 245-258

   3. Using the PCI to Investigate Trait-State Aspects of Hypnosis and Several Stress Management Conditions

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 259-287

   4. The Differential Organization of the Structures of Consciousness during Hypnosis

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 289-307

   5. Predicting Hypnotic Susceptibility with the PCI

      • Ronald J. Pekala

      Pages 309-332

This book presents an approach to quantifying consciousness and its various states. It represents over ten years of work in developing, test­ ing, and researching the use of relatively simple self-report question­ naires in the retrospective assessment of subjective or phenomenologi­ cal experience. While the simplicity of the method allows for subjective experience to be reliably and validly assessed across various short stim­ ulus conditions, the flexibility of the approach allows the cognitive psy­ chologist, consciousness researcher, and mental health professional to quantify and statistically assess the phenomenological variables associ­ ated with various stimulus conditions, altered-state induction tech­ niques, and clinical procedures. The methodology allows the cognitive psychologist and mental health professional to comprehensively quantify the structures and pat­ terns of subjective experience dealing with imagery, attention, affect, volitional control, internal dialogue, and so forth to determine how these phenomenological structures might covary during such stimulus conditions as free association, a sexual fantasy, creative problem solving, or a panic attack. It allows for various phenomenological pro­ cesses to be reported, quantified, and statistically assessed in a rather comprehensive fashion that should help shed greater understanding on the nature of mind or consciousness.

• assessment
• attention
• management
• psychology
• stress
• stress management

• West Chester, USA

  Ronald J. Pekala

• Veterans Administration Medical Center, Biofeedback Clinic, Coatesville, USA

  Ronald J. Pekala

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