Book Laboratory Inc. Staff

Stanley Krippner (born 1932) was an American psychologist and parapsychologist who held academic positions at Saybrook University, the California Institute of Integral Studies, Akamai University, and the California Institute for Human Science. His research and writings focused on altered states of consciousness, dream telepathy, hypnosis, shamanism, and parapsychology. Krippner was an early advocate for humanistic psychology and contributed significantly to the Society for Psychological Hypnosis.

He is particularly recognized for his extensive work on dream telepathy, notably the Maimonides Medical Center Dream Research Laboratory studies conducted with Montague Ullman. These experiments, involving agents attempting to transmit images to sleeping subjects, yielded statistically significant results according to Krippner and colleagues, though the findings have faced criticism regarding methodological rigor and lack of independent replication. Krippner also explored the potential of psychedelics, influenced by his early experiences with Timothy Leary, and collaborated with figures like Alan Watts on various projects, including advocating for marijuana decriminalization. His career also involved collaborations with musicians like the Grateful Dead, exploring the intersection of music, consciousness, and ESP.

Stanley Krippner dedicated a significant portion of his career to the study of parapsychological phenomena, with a particular emphasis on dream telepathy. From 1964 to 1972, he directed the Dream Research Laboratory at Maimonides Medical Center, where he conducted numerous experiments alongside Montague Ullman. These studies aimed to investigate whether individuals could telepathically transmit visual information to sleeping subjects. The methodology typically involved an 'agent' focusing on an image while a 'target' slept and dreamed. Krippner and his collaborators reported statistically significant results in many of these studies, suggesting a potential telepathic connection. However, this body of work has been subject to considerable scientific scrutiny, with critics questioning the experimental controls and the reproducibility of the findings. Despite criticisms, Krippner continued to analyze and defend the Maimonides data, contributing to meta-analyses that suggested positive effects in dream telepathy studies.

Krippner's academic interests extended to altered states of consciousness, hypnosis, and the influence of psychoactive substances. His early involvement with Timothy Leary and the Harvard Psilocybin Project in the early 1960s sparked a lifelong interest in psychedelics, which he explored in his research and writings. He viewed these substances as potentially valuable tools for understanding consciousness and the relationship between subjective experience and the external world. This interest in expanded states of awareness also intersected with his engagement with Eastern philosophies, particularly Buddhism and Taoism, influenced by his friendship and collaborations with Alan Watts. Krippner also explored the application of hypnosis, working with musicians like Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead to enhance performance and explore consciousness through hypnotic techniques.

Throughout his extensive career, Stanley Krippner held influential academic positions, shaping the fields of psychology and parapsychology. He was a long-serving faculty member at Saybrook University, where he held the Alan Watts Professorship, and also contributed to the California Institute of Integral Studies and the California Institute for Human Science, which he helped establish. Krippner was a prominent figure in humanistic psychology, serving as President of Division 32 of the American Psychological Association. His leadership also extended to the Society for Psychological Hypnosis. He was recognized for his contributions with the APA Award for Distinguished Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology in 2002, underscoring his significant impact on the global psychological community.