Do dissociative traits and states influence the experience of experimentally induced out-of-body experiences in a nonclinical sample?

König, Elena (2021) Do dissociative traits and states influence the experience of experimentally induced out-of-body experiences in a nonclinical sample? Master thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Dissociation is a complex phenomenon and prevalent in both clinical and healthy populations. Recent literature suggests that dissociative experiences are caused by the interruption of multisensory integration processes. Through creating a multisensory conflict, bodily illusion paradigms have induced dissociative experiences such as the out-of-body experience (OBE). For instance, it was found that synchronous vs. asynchronous visuotactile stimulation induces OBEs. In addition, there is evidence that a greater dissociative tendency (i.e., trait dissociation) predisposes individuals to dissociative experiences like state dissociation and OBEs. The current study's aim was two-fold: First, to test the robustness of an OBI paradigm (i.e., replicate preliminary findings; Ehrsson, 2007) to induce OBEs in a well-powered, nonclinical sample. Second, to explore - in a moderated mediation model - if the effect of visuotactile stimulation on self-reported OBEs is partially mediated by induced state dissociation and whether this mediating effect depends on the levels of trait dissociation. Nonclinical subjects (N = 160) were measured on trait dissociation and randomized to either synchronous (i.e., experimental condition) or asynchronous (i.e., control condition) visuotactile manipulation conditions. State dissociation and self-reported OBEs were assessed after the manipulation. Results did not support prior findings of the OBI paradigm and the moderated mediation model. However, despite these null findings, there were two promising findings: firstly, state dissociation independently predicted OBEs, and secondly there was a significant moderate positive relationship between trait and state dissociation. Implications of findings, strengths, limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Mertens, Yoki, L.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	12 Jan 2022 08:56
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2022 08:56
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/32

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