Towards a model of distant healing
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Date
2011Author
Easter, Alison Rose
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Abstract
The studies presented in this dissertation examine distant healing using both
quantitative and qualitative methods. Distant healing purportedly works through
the mental intention of one living system affecting another at a distance. The
literature to date shows mixed results with regards to its efficacy and very little
examination of the experience of healers and healees who practice and receive
distant healing outside of research settings. This thesis aims to clarify some of the
gaps in the literature and to direct future investigations of distant healing through
the development of a more comprehensive model of distant healing.
To better understand the components that may contribute to distant healing,
the first study presented in this thesis is designed to understand the role that belief
and expectancy may have on outcomes in a trial of distant healing. Quantitative
approaches to the study of distant healing have yielded mixed results (Astin,
Harkness & Ernst, 2000), with some studies showing small positive effects of distant
healing and others no effect or a slight negative effect. This clinical trial utilized a
partially blind design to measure the impact of awareness of receiving distant
healing. Therefore, half of the participants were blind to their allocation condition,
while the other half were aware of their assignment to either the healing or no
healing condition. While no effect of distant healing was found overall, there was an
apparent effect of knowledge of allocation, with those aware they were receiving
healing reporting better outcomes than those aware that they were not receiving
healing (d = 0.76). This effect was not, however, significant in the analysis of
covariance, and thus should be interpreted with caution. In the future, studies with a
similar design and larger sample size should be pursued to confirm the effect of
expectancy on healing outcome.
The characteristics and perspectives of healers are largely ignored in the
available literature, and may aid in understanding the phenomenon of distant
healing. The primary goal of the second study was to investigate healer
characteristics (N = 130) in the areas of personality, spirituality, exceptional
experiences, boundaries and emotional intelligence. This was achieved using
questionnaire measures and comparisons with population norms where available.
Also included in the study was a series of open-ended questions that asked
participants to define and describe spiritual healing and healers. Thematic analysis
revealed that healers believed factors such as skill of the healer and healee receptivity to be especially important to the healing process. It was also recognized that healing
might not be appropriate in all situations. For example, healers report that it should
not be considered as a primary form of treatment for a broken leg and it may not be
as effective if the healee is in a negative and unsupportive environment.
Qualitative investigations of distant healing have been limited, with much of
the research focusing more broadly on spiritual healing or other alternative
approaches to healing. The third study investigated the experience of distant healing
as reported by healees with a strong cultural context of belief or acceptance in the
possible efficacy of mental healing. This study took place in Sri Lanka, and the
healees were recipients of distant healing from a Buddhist monk and healer, Bhante
Seelagawesi. Healees were interviewed about their experiences. Interpretive
phenomenological analysis (IPA) of interviewees’ accounts revealed participants’
attitudes towards traditional and modern approaches to healing, such that while
they showed an awareness and acceptance of the latter, they often preferred the
former. The experiences were overwhelmingly positive, however a number of
factors, in addition to distant healing, appeared to be therapeutic. There was a strong
community aspect to healing, and overall a theme of empowerment was evident.
Overall, these studies allow us to build a more complete and holistic model of
the distant healing phenomenon, which is presented in the final chapter. The studies
also fill in some of the gaps found in the current literature, particularly by utilizing a
mixed methods approach and focusing on both efficacy and also healer and healee
accounts.