Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1 1988 Page 40
The Illusion of ESP
Intuition is a normal unconscious reasoning ability. If a person is intuitive, he or she has the
ability to draw conclusions from normal sensory information that is apparently inferred without
the use of normal conscious mason.
Extra-sensory perception, on the other hand, is the paranormal ability to bypass the use of the
senses. It is ―perception that seems to occur apart from or in addition to, the normal function of
the usual senses.‖(4)
In the intuition exercise, the trainer lays the groundwork for creating an illusion of ESP by using
language that weakens the resistance of skeptics and reinforces the faith of believers. The trainer
uses the term ―natural knowing‖ instead of ―intuition‖ or ―ESP.‖ The term ―natural knowing,‖ the
cultivation of which is the goal of the intuition exercise, is sufficiently vacuous (what would be an
example of ―unnatural knowing‖?) yet evocative (―natural‖ implies effortless, authentic, ―better‖)
to create an expectation that the group will learn something powerful and special. This special
ability is likened to ―intuition but is presented as something more profound -otherwise why not
say ―intuition‖?
On the first night of the basic training which I attended, the trainer said ―We will be calling a
―rock‖ a ―rock.‖ This was communicated in a way that would incline participants to believe that
the special language of the training is somehow deeper and more accurate than normal language.
The use of a special term for intuition or ESP reduces the resistance of those participants who are
not inclined to believe in ESP without at the same time alienating those who are prone to believe
in ESP and welcome the chance to learn it. Indeed, participants who are inclined to believe in ESP
and the paranormal think only that a special language is being used to teach it. In either case,
―natural knowing‖ becomes synonymous with ESP in the group's jargon and in the perceptions of
many participants.
The identification of ―natural knowing‖ with paranormal perceptions can be seen most
conspicuously in the group's theoretical explanation of that ability, which is provided on the first
night of the basic training. The trainer discusses levels of awareness. At the bottom levels are
mystery, belief, and analysis. At the mid- point are action and experiment. Above the mid-point
we find experience and observation, and finally, ―natural knowing,‖ at the top. This highest ability
is defined as that which we just know ―with nothing to substantiate it‖(5) If that is what it means,
then with very few exceptions,(6) this constitutes the same thing as information gained without
the use of the senses, which would be paranormal. Therefore, the group's special language, or
jargon, suggests that the training can make one ―psychic.‖
Manipulation in the Intuition Exercise
There is a great deal of manipulation within the intuition exercise which can make it seem more
effective and dramatic. The exercise begins with the selection of a volunteer ―believer‖ for an
introductory demonstration by the trainer. According to my subjects, the trainer asks for a
volunteer who has taken the basic training before, and sometimes for someone who has taken
the training and ―believes that the exercise can work.‖ In this way, the trainer can manipulate the
situation in order to demonstrate ―intuition‖ with someone who is inclined to believe in psychic
abilities. Since the evidence for success in these matters is subjective, ESP illusions work best
with such persons because they will help the demonstration along.
In an objective inquiry into the possibility of psychic phenomena, the selection of the subject
would be random or comparisons would be made between experiments performed with
―believers‖ and with non-believers. The intuition exercise systematically avoids this random
selection or careful comparison.
The Illusion of ESP
Intuition is a normal unconscious reasoning ability. If a person is intuitive, he or she has the
ability to draw conclusions from normal sensory information that is apparently inferred without
the use of normal conscious mason.
Extra-sensory perception, on the other hand, is the paranormal ability to bypass the use of the
senses. It is ―perception that seems to occur apart from or in addition to, the normal function of
the usual senses.‖(4)
In the intuition exercise, the trainer lays the groundwork for creating an illusion of ESP by using
language that weakens the resistance of skeptics and reinforces the faith of believers. The trainer
uses the term ―natural knowing‖ instead of ―intuition‖ or ―ESP.‖ The term ―natural knowing,‖ the
cultivation of which is the goal of the intuition exercise, is sufficiently vacuous (what would be an
example of ―unnatural knowing‖?) yet evocative (―natural‖ implies effortless, authentic, ―better‖)
to create an expectation that the group will learn something powerful and special. This special
ability is likened to ―intuition but is presented as something more profound -otherwise why not
say ―intuition‖?
On the first night of the basic training which I attended, the trainer said ―We will be calling a
―rock‖ a ―rock.‖ This was communicated in a way that would incline participants to believe that
the special language of the training is somehow deeper and more accurate than normal language.
The use of a special term for intuition or ESP reduces the resistance of those participants who are
not inclined to believe in ESP without at the same time alienating those who are prone to believe
in ESP and welcome the chance to learn it. Indeed, participants who are inclined to believe in ESP
and the paranormal think only that a special language is being used to teach it. In either case,
―natural knowing‖ becomes synonymous with ESP in the group's jargon and in the perceptions of
many participants.
The identification of ―natural knowing‖ with paranormal perceptions can be seen most
conspicuously in the group's theoretical explanation of that ability, which is provided on the first
night of the basic training. The trainer discusses levels of awareness. At the bottom levels are
mystery, belief, and analysis. At the mid- point are action and experiment. Above the mid-point
we find experience and observation, and finally, ―natural knowing,‖ at the top. This highest ability
is defined as that which we just know ―with nothing to substantiate it‖(5) If that is what it means,
then with very few exceptions,(6) this constitutes the same thing as information gained without
the use of the senses, which would be paranormal. Therefore, the group's special language, or
jargon, suggests that the training can make one ―psychic.‖
Manipulation in the Intuition Exercise
There is a great deal of manipulation within the intuition exercise which can make it seem more
effective and dramatic. The exercise begins with the selection of a volunteer ―believer‖ for an
introductory demonstration by the trainer. According to my subjects, the trainer asks for a
volunteer who has taken the basic training before, and sometimes for someone who has taken
the training and ―believes that the exercise can work.‖ In this way, the trainer can manipulate the
situation in order to demonstrate ―intuition‖ with someone who is inclined to believe in psychic
abilities. Since the evidence for success in these matters is subjective, ESP illusions work best
with such persons because they will help the demonstration along.
In an objective inquiry into the possibility of psychic phenomena, the selection of the subject
would be random or comparisons would be made between experiments performed with
―believers‖ and with non-believers. The intuition exercise systematically avoids this random
selection or careful comparison.
