Quasi-Experimental Elicitation of the Differential Report of Religious Experience Among Intrinsic and Indiscriminately Pro-Religious Types

Abstract

In this research, 73 participants were categorized according to religious orientation (intrinsic, extrinsic, or indiscriminately pro) and were subjected to an isolation tank experience under one of two set conditions (religious or nonreligious). The experience was assessed by means of a modified mysticism scale with two factors: a minimal phenomenological experience factor (I) and a religious interpretation factor (II). As predicted, religious types did not differ on the report of minimal phenomenological properties of mysticism (factor I) as a function of set conditions. However, as predicted, indiscriminately pro participants had higher factor II scores (religious interpretation) under the religious set condition, while factor II scores were unaffected by set conditions for extrinsic and intrinsic types. Also, as anticipated, intrinsic types had higher factor II scores, while extrinsic had lower factor II scores regardless of set conditions.