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  On Being Stoned

    Charles T. Tart, Ph. D.

        Chapter 30.    Factor Analysis: Dimensions of Intoxication


    ALL THE DATA on marijuana intoxication presented so far have been based on how experienced users describe their experiences; i.e., it is primarily descriptive. One naturally wonders if there are more basic dimensions of the intoxication experience that could account for the many different specific effects, that would reduce many effects to a smaller, more basic number.
    Factor analysis is a statistical technique that begins to answer such questions. All the different items of information are correlated with each other; a factor analysis then ascertains whether some sets of items form natural groupings that might represent more basic dimensions.
    The data format of the present study is not well suited to factor analysis; the five-point frequency scale is rather limited, is not normally distributed, and does not constitute an interval or ratio scale. Thus the data given below are the weakest of the present study and are presented only for the sake of completeness and the guidance of other investigators.
    In order to reduce the number of items to a level the computerized factor analysis program of the University of California at Berkeley's Computer Center could handle, every other item, starting with Q1, was selected. This included two items (Q67 and Q167) that were not answered in the same form as the others and so are not considered in interpreting the factors. Thus the analysis is based on 104 frequency of occurrence items.

 

RESULTS

    The principal components analysis revealed one main factor (Eigenvalues for the first twelve factors were 13.953, 4.842, 3.956, 3.489, 3.191, 2.927, 2.758, 2.673, 2.443, 2.377, 2.255, and 2.171). Items loading .400 or greater on this first factor are presented in Table 30-1. The usual type-style code for overall frequency of occurrence is used. AS principal component rotations are primarily of mathematical rather than psychological interest, no interpretation of this factor will be made.
    A Varimax rotation for 12 factors revealed one small-sized factor and eleven others that were not too much smaller. The proportion of the total communality accounted for by each factor was .078, .048, .044, .035, .033, .032, .031, .030, .028, .028, and .025. Each factor is described in Table 30-2.
    Factor I seems to consist mainly of feelings of competence, perceptiveness, and intuitive-archetypal approaches to the environment. We might call it "Being High," as it fits many descriptions by users of the virtues of marijuana intoxication.
    Factor II reflects enhancement of touch, taste, and smell sensations and imagery. It has been tentatively called "Enhancement of Nondominant Senses," as these senses generally play a minor role compared to vision and hearing in most of our transactions with the world. One could also consider these as close-up or "intimate" senses, as contrasted with the functioning of vision and hearing at much greater distances.
    Factor III deals primarily with increased awareness of various internal processes, such as body tensions, dreams, feelings of the location of consciousness, and thoughts. It has tentatively been named "Enhanced Internal Awareness."
    Factor IV consists of items describing increased absorption in internal processes and a (consequent) loss of contact with the external world. It has tentatively been called "Internalization of Awareness."
    Factor V does not Seem to have a common theme, and Factor VI has only three items loading heavily enough to define it. It seems to represent unpleasant, dysphoric effects. Factor VII seems to represent perceptual instability in the visual system.
    Factor VIII does not show any clear pattern, unless it he memory decrement. Factor IX also seems to represent memory decrement, although it is defined by only two items. The remaining three factors that were analyzed for in the Varimax rotation show no particular patterns that can readily be named.

 

TABLE 30-1
FIRST FACTOR, PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS
LOADING    Q#    BRIEF DESCRIPTION
.613191EVENTS BECOME ARCHETYPAL
.612111SAY MORE PROFOUND THINGS
.610141MIND FEELS MORE EFFICIENT IN PROBLEM SOLVING
.58715VISUAL JIGGLE
.582133SKIP INTERMEDIATE STEPS IN PROBLEM SOLVING
.56365TELEPATHY
.560151BETTER LONG-TERM MEMORY
.538113INSIGHTS INTO OTHERS
.5273SENSUAL QUALITY TO VISION
.52649Different smell components at different locations
.51945VIVID TASTE IMAGERY
.51437VIVID TACTUAL IMAGERY
.514147PLAY ELABORATE GAMES
.506139SPONTANEOUS INSIGHTS INTO SELF
.49895FEEL STRONGER
.48617PULSING OF VISION
.484163MORE AWARE OF BODILY COMPONENTS OF EMOTION
.471143WORK MORE ACCURATELY ON PROBLEMS
.486145IDEAS MORE ORIGINAL
.46789PAIN MORE INTENSE IF CONCENTRATED ON
.46213PATTERNS, MEANING IN AMBIGUOUS VISUAL MATERIAL
.459149THOUGHT MORE INTUITIVE
.45963DEJA VU
.45947NEW QUALITIES TO SMELL
.45285VIBRATION IN BODY THAT IS NOT MUSCLE TREMOR
.445125CLOSER CONTACT WITH PARTNER IN MAKING LOVE
.444135NEW SIGNIFICANCE TO COMMONPLACE CONVERSATIONS
.43891BODY FEELS SMALLER
.431216SYNESTHESIA
.424218INNER VISIONS AS REAL AS NOCTURNAL DREAMS
.421189AT ONE WITH WORLD
.404193MEDIIATE MORE EFFECTIVELY
.40227AUDITORY IMAGES MORE VIVID

 

TABLE 30-2
VARIMAX ROTATION FACTORS
LOADING    Q#    BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Factor I. "Being High"
.698191EVENTS BECOME ARCHETYPAL
.682111SAY MORE PROFOUND THINGS
.599113INSIGHTS INTO OTHERS
.592151BETTER LONG-TERM MEMORY
.553141MIND FEELS MORE EFFICIENT IN PROBLEM SOLVING
.547115MORE SOCIABLE
.526147PLAY ELABORATE GAMES
.520189AT ONE WITH WORLD
.511135NEW SIGNIFICANCE TO COMMONPLACE CONVERSATIONS
.489143WORK MORE ACCURATELY ON PROBLEMS
.487117TALK MORE
.48395FEEL STRONGER
.482133SKIP INTERMEDIATE STEPS IN PROBLEM SOLVING
.481145IDEAS MORE ORIGINAL
.440127BETTER LOVER THAN WHEN STRAIGHT
.430163MORE AWARE OF BODILY COMPONENTS OF EMOTION
.42465TELEPATHY
.411125CLOSER CONTACT WITH PARTNER IN MAKING LOVE
.40127AUDITORY IMAGES MORE VIVID
.400161FEEL EMOTIONS MORE STRONGLY
 
Factor II. "Enhancement of Non-dominant Senses"
.70731NEW QUALITIES TO TOUCH
.64933SURFACES FEEL SMOOTHER, SILKIER
.59947NEW QUALITIES TO SMELL
.53937VIVID TACTUAL IMAGERY
.55345VIVID TASTE IMAGERY
.43249Different smell components at different locations
.43039NEW QUALITIES TO TASTE
 
Factor III. "Enhanced Internal Awareness"
.552193MEDITAIE MORE EFFECTIVELY
.534183LOSE CONTROL OVER THOUGHTS
.469197EASY TO GO TO SLEEP AT BEDTIME
.44875MORE AWARE OF INTERNAL ORGANS GENERALLY
.448201DREAMS MORE VIVID
.444163MORE AWARE OF BODILY COMPONENTS OF EMOTION
.435216SYNESTHESIA
.41977LOCATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN BODY CHANGES
 
Factor IV. "internalization of Awareness"
.543129ABSORBED, ATTENTION MVST BE FORCIBLY GOTTEN
.52155SO ABSORBED IN THOUGHT NEED TO REORIENT AFTERWARDS
.49193LOSE TOUCH WITH BODY, FLOAT IN LIMITLESS SPACE
.46289PAIN MORE INTENSE IF CONCENTRATED ON
.43773VERY AWARE OF BREATHING
.429123Less need for sex
.41623VISUAL HALLUCINATIONS
 
Factor V. No common theme apparent
.673171Worry about losing control
.579208SOME INNER TRIPS SEEM REAL, EVEN THOUGH THEY
    COULDN'T BE REAL
.544137ACCEPT CONTRADICTIONS MORE READILY
.48761EVENTS FLOW MORE SMOOTHLY
.468165INVARIABLY FEEL GOOD WHEN STONED
 
Factor VI. "Dysphoria"
.6005World looks flat
.534101MOVEMENTS AWKWARD, UNCOORDINATED
.531119People seem dead, like robots
 
Factor VII. "Visual Instability"
.5759PERIPHERAL VISION CHANGES
.450103SENSE OF BALANCE ERRATIC
.4107AURAS AROUND OBJECTS
-.423185DIFFERENT PERSON WHILE STONED
 
Factor VIII. No common theme apparent
.680175EASILY SIDETRACKED
.565105PLAY CHILDISH GAMES
.458210Gotten nauseated, vomited
.420153FORGET START OF CONVERSATION
 
Factor IX. No common theme apparent
.65021REMEMBER LESS OF WHAT IS READ
.462153FORGET START OF CONVERSATION
 
Factors X, XI, and XII. No common themes apparent
Factor X:
.61259TIME PASSES RAPIDLY
.44411VISION BLURRY
.42885VIBRATION IN BODY THAT IS NOT MUSCLE TREMOR
 
Factor XI:
.47025UNDERSTAND WORDS OF SONGS BETTER
.452205CAN'T COME DOWN AT WILL
.44099PHYSICALLY RELAXED, DON'T WANT TO MOVE
-.468121HIGHER PEOPLE GET ME HIGHER (CONTACT HIGH)
 
Factor XII:
.513214FEEL WORLD IS OK
-.495177POOR CONTROL OVER FANTASIES
-.40019EASIER TO READ

Chapter 31

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