Rereading Myers: From the Subliminal to the Transliminal
Journal of the Society for Psychical Research December 19, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.63499/esz30047 via OpenAlex
Summary
Frederic Myers developed a theory of consciousness distinguishing between subliminal and supraliminal states, which was recognized for integrating unexplained phenomena. Despite its acclaim, his model faced conceptual challenges, particularly regarding the nature of the 'Subliminal Self' and the coexistence of different faculties. Myers refined his theory using a light spectrum analogy, proposing a new representation that divides consciousness into intraliminal and transliminal aspects. His work has significantly influenced psychology and parapsychology.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | Myers' theory of consciousness, despite its complexities, laid foundational insights for understanding human consciousness and influenced research in psychology and parapsychology. |
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Abstract
Frederic Myers (1843-1901), co-founder of the Society for Psychical Research, developed a pioneering theory of consciousness in the late 19th century (Gauld, 1968; Hamilton, 2009). Myers initially introduced a distinction between two forms of consciousness: the subliminal (subthreshold) and the supraliminal (ordinary consciousness). This theory was hailed by his contemporaries, notably Theodore Flournoy and William James, for its breadth and ability to integrate unexplained phenomena. However, conceptual problems remained: a confusion between “Subliminal Self” (all-encompassing unity) and “subliminal selves” (transient personalities); a difficulty in explaining the coexistence of lower and higher faculties in the subliminal; and an inadequacy of the spatial metaphor “surface/depth”. Myers thus refined his model using the analogy of the light spectrum. I proposed to develop an alternative representation (known as “topography”) of his theory, based on a division between a centre, the intraliminal (ex-supraliminal), and a periphery, the transliminal (ex-subliminal). I am restating several of Myers' ideas in the light of this reconceptualization. Myers' theory, though complex and sometimes confusing, laid the foundations for a broader understanding of human consciousness. His subliminal/transliminal model and psychoscopic method opened the way to the exploration of hitherto unexplained psychic phenomena, having a lasting influence on research in psychology and parapsychology.