Abstract
The current research investigated the life-after-death (LAD) experience of a 30-year-old Australian female. The experient encountered somatosensory and auditory contact from her deceased father who woke her from the dream she was having of him. Analysis considered personality and social influences, and potential psychological explanations from Freudian, Gestalt, and Adlerian and Jungian perspectives. The experience was further evaluated theoretically with geophysical, biological and neurochemical determinants, all of which claim differing degrees of scientific support. Although a genuine LAD experience could not be refuted, the most scientifically plausible explanation identified Rapid Eye Movement (REM) extending into hypnopompic stages of sleep due to a delayed REM-off condition. But, other factors were identified as influencing the quality, timing and duration of REM and, thus, a definitive causal explanation remained elusive.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 149-163 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Australian Journal of Parapsychology |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Keywords
- apparitions
- dreams
- psychological aspects
- rapid eye movement sleep
- sleep paralysis
- future life