Citation: Kelly, T.M. (2014). Classification & Statistical Manual of Extrasensory Experiences. Copyright © 2014 Theresa M. Kelly, MsD. Interested professionals are welcome to Download a Complimentary Copy of the CSM-EE. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Phenomenological Features

The essential feature of the (TC) type of telepathy is the phenomenologically direct knowledge of another person’s thoughts or mental states (Braude, 1978). In cases of Telepathic Cognition, one individual is retrieving information from another, i.e. one individual is able to “pick up on” the thoughts of another individual. The person from whom the thoughts originate does not play and intentional part in the information teleportation processes. Instead, the process is assumed entirely evoked by the receiver/percipient.

In other words, in regard to telepathic cognition, the “receiver” is the telepathist (i.e. an individual capable of evoking telepathic processes). Here, the telepathist will become aware of the other individual’s mental state or states, but should be able to clearly identify that the thought did not originate in their own mind. Here the information is received and perceived by the telepathist, but the thought did not develop from a chain of prior thoughts belonging to the telepathist. Instead, the thought appears to “pop up,“ but is immediately associated with a specific individual other than the telepathist, or simply identified as not originating from the telepathist.

Hallucinations that may occur include any sensory modality (e.g. visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile), but visual and auditory hallucinations are the most common. Hallucinations occur while the experient is awake or in an altered state of consciousness (e.g. hypnagogic, hypnopompic, or a trance state). Hallucinations are typically unobtrusive unless exacerbated by stress or a mental disorder (e.g. an anxiety disorder may result in the disorganization of subconscious needs and goals resulting in the over stimulation of telepathic processes) (Braude, 1978; Kelly, 2011a).

Intention Specifiers

The first set of specifiers is for identifying whether the experience was intentional or unintentional.

A.  Spontaneous. This specifier applies when information appears to “pop into mind” rather than being intentionally requested by the percipient.

B.  Intentional.This specifier applies when a percipient selects or specifies another individual from whom they wish to extract in-formation. However, this specifier also applies when a percipient generalizes their search from “by whom,” to “by what” type of information the percipient needs. In the case of the latter, one or several subjects may be perceived.

The second set of specifiers is for identifying the subconscious or conscious need or goal that is assumed to be the catalyst for initiating telepathic cognitive processes.

 A.  Adaptive. This specifier applies when information acquisition is initiated to assist the percipient in understanding and adapting to subjects in which they typically have some level of emotional investment.

B.  Decisive. This specifier applies when information acquisition is initiated to assist the percipient in coming to a decision involving subjects in which they typically have some level of emotional investment.

Development and Course

Childhood onset may present itself through dreams, visual and/or auditory hallucinations, with intuitive impressions (i.e. gut feelings, intuition) being also common. Adolescent onset primarily presents itself through visual and/or auditory hallucinations with telepathic dreams and intuitive impressions (i.e. gut feelings, intuition) being also common. However, other types of hallucinations (e.g. olfactory, tactile, etc.) are less common. Adult onset primarily presents itself through telepathic dreams, intuitive impressions, or during crisis situations in the form of hallucinations subconsciously deem most appropriate for notification. Compound modalities are more common amongst identical and fraternal twins.

Course Specifiers

These specifiers are for identifying the characteristic course of telepathic cognitive experiences over time.

A.  Single Episode. This specifier applies when the percipient experiences a telepathic dream, or impression, or hallucination without a prior history of episodes.

B.  Episodic. This specifier applies when the percipient experiences telepathic dreams, or impressions, or hallucinations of which seem to occur irregularly and of which the duration of the experience is very momentary. An episodic hallucination may involve a quick flash of an image or an auditable single word or short phrase with the duration of the experiencing lasting only a maximum of a couple of seconds. An episodic hallucination may also involve a more “movie-like” or dynamic image or auditable whole sentences or rhymes (e.g. songs) with the duration typically lasting no longer than a few seconds. While the percipient may appear distracted during a telepathic episode, the experient should still be fully aware of their surroundings.

C.  Continuous. This specifier applies when the percipient experiences telepathic impressions or hallucinations of which seem to occur in a continual manner, or when episodes are so frequent it is difficult for the percipient to determine where one episode ends and another begins (e.g. prolonged and closely spaced episodes).

Modality Specifiers

These specifiers are for identifying the characteristic mode(s) of a telepathic experience. In any case, some emotional investment in the individual, or the situation in which the individual resides, on the experients behalf is expected.

A.  Dream. Refers to telepathic information acquisition during sleep.

B.  Intuitive Impressions/Emotional. Refers to non-hallucinatory sensations of which can be described as telepathically received emotional content.

C.  Auditory Hallucinations. Hallucinations of hearing/sound. Typically only involves verbal hallucinations as opposed to non-verbal hallucinations. While the origin of telepathic auditory hallucinations are external, they are typically perceived as internal (i.e. heard within the mind as opposed to seemingly heard by the physical ear), and stem from an identifiable location (i.e. a subject in spatial proximity to the percipient,  or a subject at a distance).

D.  Visual Hallucinations. Hallucinations of sight. Involving a perceived complexity classified as simple or complex. If the entire environment is replaced by the visual hallucination, the hallucination is classified as scenic or panoramic hallucinations. Visual hallucinations in which are located beyond the visual field (e.g. in the back of the mind, third eye vision, etc.) are classified as extracampine hallucinations.  Using the perceived shape of the hallucination, visual hallucinations can be classified as formed, organized, or unformed (i.e. abstract).

E.  Tactile Hallucinations. Hallucinations of pressure and touch. Can include a wide range of sensations from a pat on the shoulder, a knee injury, a blow to the head, and hot and cold sensations. Tactile hallucinations are classified based on the type of sensation experience (e.g. painful sensations are classified as pain hallucinations; temperature sensations are classified as thermal/thermic hallucinations).

F.  Somatic Hallucinations. Hallucinations from inside the body (e.g. heart, lungs, sensations within the limbs, stomach e.g. nausea). Also known as somatosensory hallucinations.

G.  Olfactory Hallucinations. Hallucinations of smell. These hallucinations are typically extrinsic where the localization of the smell is outside of the body (e.g. the smell of tobacco, fumes from a fire, flowers and grass in a park, the perfume of a loved one, etc.).

H.  Gustatory Hallucinations. Hallucinations of taste. May include a wide range of taste sensations classified as bitter, sour, sweet,  ‘disgusting,’ etc., but can be classified in more specific terms (e.g. tobacco, garlic, salt, blood, etc.).

I.  Compound. Several modalities are involved, in which case each mode involved should be noted.

Associated Mental Health Findings

Mental health disorders somewhat common in experients of Telepathic Cognition include: Alcohol and/or Substance Abuse/Dependence; Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder; Depressive Disorder; Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia; and Social Phobia (Kelly, 2011a).

Associated Medical Condition Findings

Physical medical conditions somewhat common in experients of Telepathic Cognition can include:  Asthma; Allergies; Migraines; and occasionally a history of Cancer (e.g. lung, breast, chest area in general) (Kelly, 2011a).

Differential Classification

A wide variety of extrasensory phenomena can present with similar phenomenology. These include:

• Empathy. Applied when there is evidence to support that emotional content is the only type of content perceived by the percipient. However, if other informational content is involved, the experience should be classified as Telepathy.

• Telepathic Interaction. Applied when there is evidence to support that the telepathist is only capable of one-way, telepathist-to-subject communication in the form of dual independent thought and impression.

• Telepathic Simulation. Applied when there is evidence to support that the telepathist is capable of two-way telepathist-to-participant and participant-to-telepathist communication in the form of shared and identical feelings, thoughts, or behaviors.

• Clairvoyance. Applied when there is evidence to support that information is obtained ‘about’ a subject, but the information obtained is not ‘from’ the subject. Information received telepathically is typically in first-person, second-person, or ‘direct,’ while information received clairvoyantly is typically in third-person or ‘indirect.’ (Example:  if the percipient receives information described “as though they are looking through the eyes of another individual,” this would be classified as Telepathy. However, if the percipient describes receiving the information “as though they are looking at the individual and the individuals surroundings,” this would be classified as Clairvoyance. In a similar circumstance, if an individual becomes aware of an ailment in their own body, or the body of another individual, but no other individual was aware of the physical ailment, then this would be classified as Clairvoyance. This is because Telepathy is mind-to-mind communication, not mind-to-body communication, and Telepathy must include at least two individuals, and because the knowledge of the ailment did not originate from another mind.)

• Mediumship. Applied when there is evidence to support that information is obtained from a non-physically living being; as Telepathy only refers to the communication of two living organisms. That is, living in the sense of existing within a physical, corporeal body. (Example: if the percipient receives information described as originating from a discarnate entity, i.e. the spirit of a deceased individual, or another form of entity that is not a physically living being such as a “Spirit Guide” or “Angel,” this would be classified as Mediumship or Clairvoyant Cognition.)

1)  Information is received by the percipient.

2)  Information received is in first person perspective (e.g.  if visual: the image received is from the subjects perspective), or narrative (e.g. if auditory: the words received are from the subjects perspective “He/She is happy today;” or occasionally ‘”I am happy today;” with additional in reference to the subject).

3)  Subconscious need for information acquisition present at the time of the experience.

Citation: Kelly, T.M. (2014). Classification & Statistical Manual of Extrasensory Experiences. Copyright © 2014 Theresa M. Kelly, MsD. Interested professionals are welcome to download a complimentary copy of the CSM-EE. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.