Deja Experience by Education and Socioeconomic Class

A positive relationship between the deja vu experience and both education level and socioeconomic class has been noted in both anecdotal and empirical evaluations (Chapman & Mensh, 1951; Crichton-Browne, 1895; Gallup & Newport, 1991; M. A. Harper, 1969; Kohr, 1980; MacCurdy, 1925; Neppe, 1979, 1983e; Palmer, 1979; Richardson & Winokur, 1967, 1968).

Chapman and Mensh (1951) compared six different “occupation” groups and declared that better educated persons (their definition; professional = 45%, student = 42%, clerical = 41%) had a higher deja vu incidence than less educated individuals (skilled = 33%, housewife = 31%, unskilled = 28%). Richardson and Winokur (1967) used similar classifications and found a higher incidence of déjà vu in the “clerical, professional, and student groups (47% to 73%)” compared with the “unemployed (retired), unskilled, housewife and skilled groups (25% to 43%)” (p. 624).

Comparing a number of different occupational levels, Palmer (1979) found the highest incidence of deja vu among professionals (80%) and the lowest incidence among blue collar workers (50%). With respect to education level, Chapman and Mensh (1951) found a systematic increase in deja vu incidence across years of education (education years: < 9 = 20%, 9–12 = 44%, 13+ = 50%). Richardson andWinokur (1967) found a similar relationship between years of education and deja vu incidence in both neurosurgery (education years: < 9 = 12%, 9–12 = 42%, 13+ = 68%) and psychiatric (education years: < 9 = 23%, 9–12 = 46%, 13+ = 56%) patients.

Comparing five levels of educational achievement, Palmer (1979) noted the lowest incidence of deja vu (48%) at the bottom rung (grade school only) and the highest incidence of deja vu (81%) among those with a graduate degree. In addition, both Chapman and Mensh and Kohr (1980) found positive correlations (.16 and .10, respectively) between education and deja vu.

Thus, all investigations show a direct relationship between déjà vu incidence and years of schooling. Of course, education and socioeconomic class are highly related, and no one has separated the independent contributions of each variable.