Mystical and other alterations in sense of self: an expanded framework for studying nonordinary experiences.
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Although many researchers in psychology, religious studies, and psychiatry recognize that there is overlap in the experiences their subjects recount, disciplinary silos and challenges involved in comparing reported experiences have left us with little understanding of the mechanisms, whether biological, psychological, and/or sociocultural, through which these experiences are represented and differentiated. So-called mystical experiences, which some psychologists view as potentially sui generis, provide a test case for assessing whether we can develop an expanded framework for studying unusual experiences across disciplines and cultures. Evidence for the special nature of "mystical experience" rests on the operationalization of a metaphysically untestable construct in two widely used self-report scales: the Mysticism Scale and the Mystical Experiences Questionnaire. Consideration of the construct in light of research on alterations in sense of self induced by psychoactive drugs and meditation practices suggests that "positive experiences of undifferentiated unity" are not sui generis, but rather a type of "ego dissolution." To better understand the nature and effects of unusual experiences, such as alterations in the sense of self, we need self-report measures that distinguish between generically worded experiences and the way they are appraised in terms of valence, significance, cause, and long-term effects in different contexts.
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These mystical experiences of expansive self have long been a hallmark of the spiritual experience, and are supportive in developing a greater sense of connection within the community.
“These mystical experiences of expansive self have long been a hallmark of the spiritual experience (Taves 2020), and are supportive in developing a greater sense of connection within the community (Kettner et al. 2021).”
From Cultural Evolution of Religion, Spirituality and Ritual: Impacts On Human Cooperation (2024) · cites this paper as Taves 2020
Many previous attempts at differential diagnosis of religious, spiritual, or mystical experiences from psychopathology have been based on limited textual accounts of mystical experience or on outdated theoretical studies of mysticism.
“Many previous attempts at differential diagnosis have been based on limited textual accounts of mystical experience or on outdated theoretical studies of mysticism.”
From Progress or Pathology? Differential Diagnosis and Intervention Criteria for Meditation-Related Challenges: Perspectives From Buddhist Meditation Teachers and Practitioners (2020) · cites this paper as Taves, 2020
Prior attempts to differentiate mystical experiences from psychosis have an imbalance in sources: the phenomenology of psychopathology is based on empirical studies while the phenomenology of mystical experiences is based on religious ideals or older textual sources.
“One issue with all three of these articles is the imbalance in their sources of information about psychosis compared to mystical experience.”
From Progress or Pathology? Differential Diagnosis and Intervention Criteria for Meditation-Related Challenges: Perspectives From Buddhist Meditation Teachers and Practitioners (2020) · cites this paper as Taves, 2020
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- Authors
- Taves, A.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
- Corresponding author
- Taves, Ann
- ORCID
- Taves, Ann
- Venue
- Perspectives on Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2020-02-13
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 669-690
- ISSN
- 1745-6916 (ISSN-L)
- 1745-6924
- OpenAlex
- W3005896034
- Cited by
- 140
- References
- 100
- Citations by year
- 2026: 24 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 19.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- correction (2022-01-24)
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- Perspectives on Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
- PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
- PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- mystical experience, ego dissolution, selfhood, psychedelics, meditation, self-report measures, construct validity, cross-disciplinary comparison, altered states of consciousness
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Consciousness Disorders, Ego, Hallucinations, Humans, Life Change Events, Mysticism, Psychopathology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Concept, Stress, Psychological, Meditation, Comprehension, Sense of Coherence
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