GRGR(3) - Pavlov: Ultraparadoxical

[David Morris]

TRANSMARGINAL INHIBITION

William Sargant, in his book The Mind Possessed makes a thorough examination
of possession-type experience. He believes that the key to this phenomena
lies in an 'abnormal' response to extreme stress which was identified by
Pavlov as Transmarginal Inhibition. Sargant describes this reaction as
having three stages, the Equivalent, Paradoxical, and Ultraparadoxical. The
Equivalent stage is characterised by a response whereby the individual's
reaction to both weak and strong stimuli is the same. In other words, a
person suffering from depression may react to both significant and trivial
experiences in the same way. The Paradoxical phase occurs when weak stimuli
produces stronger positive responses than strong stimuli. An example of this
phase is the depressed person who does not react when verbally threatened,
but can be motivated by a gentle command. The third phase, the
Ultraparadoxical, is characterised by the appearance of responses that are
diametrically opposed to those which have been previously conditioned or
habituated, and new beliefs and behaviours may be implanted. Sargant also
notes other phenomena associated with this state. These are: increased
suggestibility to beliefs and stimuli which would not normally be paid much
attention; the isolation and inhibition of certain thoughts and behaviour
from memory, and the "inhibitory collapse" which wipes recent behaviour from
memory.