An ego-psychological theory of altered states of consciousness
International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis October 1, 1977 Erika Fromm 39 citations
A new ego-psychological theory explains altered states of consciousness by examining dichotomies: primary versus secondary process, ego activity versus ego receptivity, and automatization versus de-automatization of ego functions. These dichotomies are applied to daydreaming, the inspirational phase of creativity, hypnosis, psychedelic states, and meditation. The roles of fantasy, imagery, and various forms of attention are also discussed.