Absorption (psychology)

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Absorption is a personality trait or emotional state that is characterized by an openness to emotional and mental changes. The construct was introduced in 1974 by A. Tellegen and G. Atkinson to explain differences in hypnotizability between people. "Openness to absorbing experiences" is a disposition to focus all mental resources on a perceptual object. As a result, these are perceived as particularly real, distracting stimuli and influences are faded out and a generally changed sense of reality and self-awareness is established.

The absorption capacity of a person can be observed in everyday life, among other things, by the extent of the feelings that are triggered by media such as books, music or films. This ability can be improved through training. Absorption is usually associated with positive emotions, such as enjoying music and art. However, there is evidence that absorption is also linked to negative emotions, such as imbalance, frequency of nightmares, or anxiety.

People with increased absorbency or correlating personality traits can usually remember dreams more often than people who do not have these personality traits.

Measurement

The absorption capacity is examined with the help of questionnaires. To measure the absorption capacity, Tellegen founded the absorption scale (TAS: Tellegen Absorption Scale) in 1974, which consists of 34 questions. In 1993 these were translated into German by Ritz and others. The absorption scale (TAS) is part of the MPQ personality test (Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire) established by Tellegen. Here the ability to absorb is further subdivided into the properties of sentient and susceptibility to fantasy and altered states of consciousness (prone to imaginitive and altered states).

In 2005 Jamieson created a modified absorption scale (MODTAS), which can be divided into five correlating factors:

  • Synesthesia
  • Intensive experience of nature
  • Imaginative participation
  • Altered states of consciousness
  • Extra-sensory perception

The ability to absorb is related to the following psychological characteristics , among others :

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Ruth Herbert: Everyday Music Listening: Absorption, Dissociation and Trancing . Routledge, 2016, ISBN 978-1-317-13828-0 ( google.at [accessed May 10, 2017]).
  2. ↑ Suzanne M. Roche, Kevin M. McConkey: Absorption: Nature, assessment, and correlates. In: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology . tape 59 , no. 1 , p. 91-101 , doi : 10.1037 / 0022-3514.59.1.91 ( apa.org [accessed May 9, 2017]).
  3. ↑ Tellegen, A. & Atkinson, G. (1974). Openness to absorbing and self-altering experiences ("absorption"), a trait related to hypnotic susceptibility. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, vol. 83, 268-277
  4. ↑ a b c d e Dieter Vaitl: Altered states of consciousness Schattauer 2012, p. 205 ff ISBN = 3794525493
  5. ↑ Erin B McClure, Scott O Lilienfeld: The dark side of absorption: Empirical associations between an experiential response style and hypochondriacal concerns . In: Journal of Research in Personality . tape 36 , no. 6 , December 1, 2002, pp. 573-579 , doi : 10.1016 / S0092-6566 (02) 00507-X ( sciencedirect.com [accessed May 10, 2017]).
  6. ↑ Dream memory, visual memory and absorption of sensory impressions. Retrieved May 10, 2017 .
  7. ^ David Watson: To dream, perchance to remember: individual differences in dream recall . In: Personality and Individual Differences . tape 34 , no. 7 , May 1, 2003, p. 1271-1286 , doi : 10.1016 / S0191-8869 (02) 00114-9 ( sciencedirect.com [accessed May 10, 2017]).
  8. ↑ TABS - TELLEGEN ABSORPTION SCALE - GERMAN VERSION on zpid.de
  9. ^ MPQ Standard - University of Minnesota Press. Retrieved May 10, 2017 .
  10. ↑ The Modified Tellegen Absorption Scale: a clearer window on the structure and meaning of absorption. Retrieved May 9, 2017 .