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Psychic ability exists in all humans. Is there a link between human physiological characteristics and the degree of psychic ability that is projected? What about environment and cultural background?

In the 1960s French researchers made an attempt to show such a link. They suggested that psychic mediums tend to have a lot of hair, suffer from weak ligaments and tend to bruise and bleed easily. Further study was conducted by Dr. W. H. Sheldon who proposed a connection between human physique and the personality.

Sheldon found the body type which he termed somatype could be described in three categories – endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorph and also the combinations of these body types.

The endomorph is physically plump and extrovert. They are good mixers socially and are unhappy when lacking in human company. In parapsychological experiments, they are successful and score high in in ESP tests due to a link to enthusiasm, warmth and cheerfulness which are traits which have been found linked to such success in testing.

The mesomorph also tends to be extroverted, have a muscular build, tend to be tough in nature, mentally alert and adventurous. Parapsychologists also find them to do well in psychic testing.

The ectomorph has a long, thin body and an over-sensitive temperament. They are often timid, tense withdrawn and prone to depression. They tend to score poorly in testing but it has yet to be detected if they experience spontaneous ESP.

Culturally, the ideas and customs and beliefs in which a person is indoctrinated at birth is thought to affect psychic development. In certain cultures a paranormal cognition may be accepted and rationalized making a fertile ground for the ability to grow.  Such was/is the case in Ancient Greece, Japan and Africa where no distinction is made between the physical and spiritual activities.

The influence of the physical environment is a slippery slope when trying to determine the connection to the psychic. It has been found in some studies that those cultures who led/lead unstructured lives more or less relaxed and not routine ordered are more receptive to psychic influence.

Studies since the turn of the century imply the psychism is more likely to occur in relaxed subjects. Attempts to induce psychic response by subjects was simply self-defeating. Controlled environments such as scientific laboratories produced poor results due to the cold and austere conditions necessary to conduct and experiments ‘scientifically’.  These environments also invoked anxiety and tension in test subjects making it more difficult. Subjects who were in a happy mood, had a good relationship with the parapsychologist conducting tests and above all mutual trust were conducive to good results. In telepathy experiments, the relationship and comfort level between the sender and receiver was also a key factor.

In the cases of spontaneous psychic experience, subjects who were tired with low blood pressure and in the stage between waking and sleeping tend to become more aware of an extrasensory impression than those who are wide awake, alert and concentrating in a particular direction.

Further, some studies have shown that diet also plays a part. Vegetarianism is akin to the cultivation of psychic powers, yet, many groups which are carnivore like the Eskimos, Bushmen and Australian Aborigines have been known to display strong psychic powers. 1950s research linked psychic ability to the absence of calcium (possibly sugar) making some people subject to visions. Sexuality also plays a part. In ancient cultures, according to tradition, a scryer who was employed to see visions in water or a crystal ball had to be a virgin who had not yet reached puberty. It was further believed that mediums lost their powers after marriage.

Whether the motives for developing psychic ability are merely scientific curiosity, a personal sense of vocation, fame, money or power – whether it is a welcome ability or repressed no firm conclusions have been drawn to date. Perhaps we just need to look deeper.

Research sources:

http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/psychology/sheldon.html

http://www.keen.com/articles/psychic/the-science-of-psychic-abilities

http://www.mysomatotype.com/body-type/?page_id=58

http://weeklyworldnews.com/headlines/28671/vegetarians-are-psychic\

https://weilerpsiblog.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/the-physiology-of-psychic-people-and-psychic-ability/

My own notes