Citation

The First Sight model presented earlier (Carpenter, 2004) is developed further here. The essential elements of the model are summarized and the place of psi functioning within the context of other preconscious psychological processes is emphasized. In particular, the hypothesized posture of unconscious focus toward or away-from extrasensory content is discussed in the context of the constructs of assimilation and accommodation as they are understood to function in the formation of perceptions and judgments. Three areas of experience are picked as being especially pertinent to seeing the interplay of psi processes with other preconscious processes: subliminal or suboptimal sensory perception, memory, and acts of creativity. Pertinent research in each area is summarized with some syntheses offered. The model's utility is evaluated in terms of three criteria: its congruence with some major findings in parapsychology, its ability to shed light on the apparent disparity between parapsychological phenomena and everyday experience and common sense, and its capacity to harmonize the findings of parapsychology with our larger scientific understanding of reality. Some directions for future research that are implied by the model are outlined.