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Questions and Answers
What is considered the relational component of self-transcendent experiences (STEs)?
How do self-transcendent experiences (STEs) correlate with psychological wellbeing?
According to Cloninger's psychobiological model, which character dimension is emphasized along with self-transcendence?
Which of the following best describes the experience of 'ego death'?
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What factor can significantly influence the experience of substance-induced effects related to STEs?
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What is a defining characteristic of organized character in Cloninger's model?
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Which of the following statements about self-transcendence is true?
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What role do STEs play in alleviating narcissism?
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Which psychological approach tends to focus on the independent ego?
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What is one common trigger for self-transcendent experiences (STEs)?
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According to Haugan & Innstrand's research, interpersonal self-transcendence is associated with what?
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In Eastern psychology, the concept of 'Anatta' relates to which idea?
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What is a potential risk factor associated with high self-transcendence in adolescents?
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Which of the following best describes the focus of humanistic psychology?
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What type of experience is categorized by intense feelings of joy and interconnectedness according to Maslow?
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What is a key feature of mindfulness as described in contemporary psychology?
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How does experiencing awe influence prosocial behavior?
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What psychological state is achieved during flow states?
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Which of the following best describes self-transcendent experiences (STEs)?
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What are plateau experiences characterized by?
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Which psychological approach involves scientific rigor and focuses on well-being?
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Study Notes
Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology
- Humanistic psychology focuses on human potential and the meaning of life.
- Transpersonal psychology is the psychology of spirituality, considering the full breadth of human experience.
- Positive psychology, a more scientifically rigorous approach, focuses on well-being, considering both hedonic (pleasure) and eudemonic (meaningful) approaches.
Positive Human Experiences
- Peak Experiences: Intense moments of joy, wonder, and interconnectedness.
- Plateau Experiences: Positive, enduring experiences like serenity and calmness.
- Peak Performance: Superior functioning in a specific area.
- Flow States: Complete absorption in an activity.
- Religious Experiences: Feelings of connection to a higher power or spiritual realm.
Mindfulness
- Non-judgmental focus on the present moment, derived from Buddhist and yogic practices.
- Characterized by open, non-defensive awareness.
- Applied in psychotherapy for anxiety and depression in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy.
Awe
- Transformative self-expansive state elicited by something perceived as greater than oneself.
- Induces a "self-reductive state," where the individual feels smaller in comparison to the awe-inspiring stimuli.
- Associated with prosocial behavior, reducing self-centeredness and increasing generosity.
Self-Transcendent Experiences (STEs)
- Experiences where the sense of self dissolves, leading to decreased self-salience and increased feelings of connectedness.
- Can range in intensity from routine (e.g., being absorbed in music) to intense (e.g., feeling one with the universe).
- Occur in various cultures and throughout history, triggered by practices like meditation, prayer, yoga, music, dancing, and psychoactive substances.
Components of STEs
- Annihilational Component: Dissolution of the bodily sense of self.
- Relational Component: Sense of connectedness with something larger than oneself.
STEs and the Self
- STEs lead to a decrease in self-consciousness, self-awareness, and self-centeredness.
- Potential antidote to narcissism by promoting selflessness.
STEs and Wellbeing
- Linked to positive outcomes like:
- Perceived social connection
- Wellbeing
- Prosocial behavior
- Meaning in life
- Excessive self-focus is associated with depression and anxiety, and self-conscious emotions like shame and guilt.
STEs and Pathology
- STEs can manifest in both positive and pathological forms.
- Dissociation (depersonalization) is associated with negative outcomes.
- Psychotic experiences (e.g., ego death) involve a feeling of lost sense of self.
Normal vs. Pathological STEs
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Cloninger's Psychobiological Model: Distinguishes between temperament (inherited traits) and character (developed traits).
- Self-Transcendence (ST) is one of the character dimensions, referring to seeing oneself as part of a larger unity.
- Unitive Consciousness: Feeling everything is part of a whole.
- The configuration of character dimensions determines whether ST is positive or negative.
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Healthy Personality: Two types:
- Organized Character: High self-directedness, cooperativeness, and low ST.
- Creative Character: High self-directedness, cooperativeness, and high ST.
- Both are healthy when self-interested behavior is acceptable, but high ST can be vital during threats.
Self-Transcendence and Psychopathology
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Schizotypal Character Profiles: High ST with low self-directedness and cooperativeness can indicate psychosis proneness or adaptive personality, depending on other character dimensions.
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Schizophrenia: Lower self-directedness and cooperativeness, and higher ST.
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Self-harm: High ST and low self-directedness; particularly in adolescents with attempted self-harm.
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Komasi (2022) Meta-analysis:
- ST is significantly associated with:
- Schizophrenia
- Schizotypal Personality Disorder
- Schizoid Personality Disorder
- Borderline and Histrionic Personality Disorders
- High ST without high self-directedness and cooperativeness can indicate serious personality disturbance.
- ST is significantly associated with:
Western vs. Eastern Psychology
- Western Psychology: Focuses on the individual self, emphasizing individualism.
- Buddhist Psychology: Proposes "Anatta" (no real self) and views the self as a delusion, composed of constantly changing "skandhas" (form, feeling, perception, impulses, consciousness).
- Suffering arises from the delusion of separateness, leading to selfishness, anxiety, and fear.
Implications for Therapy
- Western Therapy: Aims to strengthen the independent ego/self.
- Buddhist Therapy: Seeks to dissolve the experience of self-as-a-separate-entity and replace it with a sense of interconnectedness.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Can be helpful in promoting self-awareness and present-moment focus.
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Description
Test your understanding of humanistic and transpersonal psychology concepts, including positive psychology and mindfulness. Explore key experiences such as peak experiences and flow states, and their implications for well-being. Dive deeper into the spiritual dimensions of psychology and discover how they enhance the human experience.