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The Psychology of Anomalous Experiences: A Rediscovery.

Cardeña, Etzel LU orcid ; Lynn, Steven Jay and Krippner, Stanley (2017) In Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice 4(1). p.4-22
Abstract
This essay presents the rationale to consider anomalous experiences (AEs, such as synesthesia, lucid dreaming, hallucinations, psi-related experiences, and near-death experiences) as an essential topic in psychology. These experiences depart from the typical or customary characteristics of consciousness (e.g., out-of-body experiences), or from ordinary or normative consciousness (e.g., synesthesia), and sometimes offer an alternative perspective to the nature of self and reality. We review the concept of AEs, methodological issues, and research findings, including their relation to individual differences, psychopathology, culture, and positive psychology. We suggest that mainstream psychology has neglected the study of AEs far too long,... (More)
This essay presents the rationale to consider anomalous experiences (AEs, such as synesthesia, lucid dreaming, hallucinations, psi-related experiences, and near-death experiences) as an essential topic in psychology. These experiences depart from the typical or customary characteristics of consciousness (e.g., out-of-body experiences), or from ordinary or normative consciousness (e.g., synesthesia), and sometimes offer an alternative perspective to the nature of self and reality. We review the concept of AEs, methodological issues, and research findings, including their relation to individual differences, psychopathology, culture, and positive psychology. We suggest that mainstream psychology has neglected the study of AEs far too long, although they often engender profound and sometimes highly positive personal and social consequences, and provide valuable insights into the full range of human experience. We propose that the time is ripe to advance the scientific interest in AEs and subject them to rigorous empirical examination in studies that explore their prevalence, phenomenology, and sequelae, and take into account the direct and interactive effects of multiple variables (e.g., genetic predisposition, psychophysiology, personality differences, sociocultural factors). This will extend the purview of inquiry and understanding of our uniquely human nature and potential. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
anomalous experiences, exceptional experiences, personality traits, positive psychology, psychopathology
in
Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice
volume
4
issue
1
pages
4 - 22
publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
external identifiers
  • scopus:85025667940
ISSN
2326-5523
DOI
10.1037/cns0000093
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
04bc2e16-1623-4263-957d-bb079a0b6868
date added to LUP
2017-04-04 08:50:17
date last changed
2023-06-29 04:07:08
@article{04bc2e16-1623-4263-957d-bb079a0b6868,
  abstract     = {{This essay presents the rationale to consider anomalous experiences (AEs, such as synesthesia, lucid dreaming, hallucinations, psi-related experiences, and near-death experiences) as an essential topic in psychology. These experiences depart from the typical or customary characteristics of consciousness (e.g., out-of-body experiences), or from ordinary or normative consciousness (e.g., synesthesia), and sometimes offer an alternative perspective to the nature of self and reality. We review the concept of AEs, methodological issues, and research findings, including their relation to individual differences, psychopathology, culture, and positive psychology. We suggest that mainstream psychology has neglected the study of AEs far too long, although they often engender profound and sometimes highly positive personal and social consequences, and provide valuable insights into the full range of human experience. We propose that the time is ripe to advance the scientific interest in AEs and subject them to rigorous empirical examination in studies that explore their prevalence, phenomenology, and sequelae, and take into account the direct and interactive effects of multiple variables (e.g., genetic predisposition, psychophysiology, personality differences, sociocultural factors). This will extend the purview of inquiry and understanding of our uniquely human nature and potential.}},
  author       = {{Cardeña, Etzel and Lynn, Steven Jay and Krippner, Stanley}},
  issn         = {{2326-5523}},
  keywords     = {{anomalous experiences; exceptional experiences; personality traits; positive psychology; psychopathology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{4--22}},
  publisher    = {{American Psychological Association (APA)}},
  series       = {{Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice}},
  title        = {{The Psychology of Anomalous Experiences: A Rediscovery.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cns0000093}},
  doi          = {{10.1037/cns0000093}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}