Unitive/mystical experiences and life changes
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Unitive/mystical experiences and life changes
Unitive/mystical experiences and life changes
Name:Personal
Schneeberger, Susan F. Role :Text(marcrelator)
creator
Schneeberger, Susan F. Role :Text(marcrelator)
creator
Name:Personal
Softas-Nall, Basilia Role :Text(marcrelator)
thesis advisor
Softas-Nall, Basilia Role :Text(marcrelator)
thesis advisor
Name:Personal
Black, Linda Role :Text
committee member
Black, Linda Role :Text
committee member
Name:Personal
Hutchinson, Susan Role :Text
committee member
Hutchinson, Susan Role :Text
committee member
Name:Personal
Gonzalez, David Role :Text
committee member
Gonzalez, David Role :Text
committee member
Name:Corporate
Applied Psychology & Counselor Education Role :Text(marcrelator)
sponsor
Applied Psychology & Counselor Education Role :Text(marcrelator)
sponsor
Name:Corporate
University of Northern Colorado Role :Text(marcrelator)
degree grantor
University of Northern Colorado Role :Text(marcrelator)
degree grantor
typeOfResource
text genre(marcgt)
Thesis
Origin Information
Place
:Text
Greeley (Colo.)
University of Northern Colorado (keyDate="yes")
2010-12
2010-12
Greeley (Colo.)
University of Northern Colorado (keyDate="yes")
2010-12
2010-12
Language
:Text
English
English
Physical Description
182 pages
born digital
182 pages
born digital
abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore life changes in beliefs, philosophy, and behavior in individuals who reported having a unitive/mystical experience (U/ME). A U/ME is a generally spontaneously occurring state of consciousness characterized by a sense of unity or "oneness" that transcends sensory or cognitive apprehension (Stace, 1960). There is often an ineffable certainty that an ultimate truth has been perceived and can be applied to one's life. The experience may be accompanied or followed by feelings of joy and bliss. One hundred sixty adults from a broad range of demographic characteristics participated in a one-time webbased survey. The concept of a unitive/mystical experience was based on the mysticism theory of Stace (1960). Hood's Scale - Research Form D (1975; 2005) was used to assess the intensity and degree of reported U/MEs since it is an operationalization of Stace's theory. Life changes were assessed using Greyson's Life Changes Inventory - Revised (2004). Participants also answered ten demographic questions. Four research questions were addressed using correlational methodology. These questions explored the type of changes reported after a unitive/mystical experience, the relationship of the intensity of the U/ME to the changes, perceptions of the overall quality of respondents' lives after the U/ME, and the relationship of the changes to selected demographic variables. Results of the study indicated that there were significant increases in participants' concern with social and planetary values, self-acceptance, spirituality, quest for meaning and sense of purpose, concern for others, and appreciation for life. Respondents reported a significant decrease in concern with worldly achievement. The area of religiousness showed no change.Results also indicated that a more intense unitive/mystical experience was associated with a greater degree of change overall, and with a significant increase in appreciation for life specifically. Participants indicated that their overall quality of life had changed significantly after their U/MEs in a direction perceived as beneficial. There was no significant relationship between reported changes and demographic variables. Limitations of the study, suggestions for future research, and implications of the findings were discussed. note
Related Item
:series
Related Item
:thesis(displayLabel="Degree Type")
Ph.D.
Ph.D.
Related Item
:thesis(displayLabel="Degree Name")
doctoral
doctoral
identifier:Local
Schneeberger_unco_0161D_10050.pdf
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http://hdl.handle.net/10176/cogru:1126
http://hdl.handle.net/10176/cogru:1126
accessCondition:useAndReproduction
Copyright is held by the author.
Record Information
languageOfCataloging
:Text(ISO639-2B)
English :Code(ISO639-2B)
eng
English :Code(ISO639-2B)
eng
note:admin
note:bibliography
note:thesis(displayLabel="Degree Type")
PsyD note:thesis(displayLabel="Degree Name")
doctoral
Subject
Subject
Subject
Name:Personal
Hood, Ralph W.
Hood, Ralph W.
Subject
Name:Corporate
Subject
accessCondition:restrictionOnAccess
Title Information:Alternative
Subject
Hood's Scale
Hood's Scale
Subject
Name:Personal
Greyson, Bruce
Greyson, Bruce
Subject
Mysticism
Mysticism
Subject
Mystical Experiences
Mystical Experiences
Subject
Spirituality
Spirituality
Subject
Psychology
Psychology
Subject
Greyson's Life Changes Inventory
Greyson's Life Changes Inventory