After much studying, I think I get it now. What confused me is that 2 different 5-way switches have their lug numbering completely opposite. The StewMac 5-way I purchased has the lugs numbered 5 to 1 ("Baby!") when the switch is stood upright. But a Fender 5-way has the lugs numbered 1 to 5 with the switch in the same position. Regardless, when the switch is in position 5, the number 5 lugs on all poles is active; with the switch in position 4, all number 4 lugs on all poles is active, et cetera. So now when I see the wiring on a switch, and lugs are soldered together, when the switch is in the positions where the lugs are soldered, whichever pickups are connected to those lugs, the pickups become activated.
And now I understand that getting a 180 degree OOP effect is established by switching the positive and negative leads on one of two pickups. And to get a HOOP effect, which is a 90 degree phase difference, a capacitor would be required - where, I'm still unsure, but I'll figure it out. I've seen a resistor added into the circuit which is another addition about which I want to understand. Resistors affect voltage so it probably has something to do with amplitude of the effect. Feel free to comment to augment my education.