Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Intrapsychic correlates of transpersonal experiences in four creedal groups

Edwards, A. (2005) Intrapsychic correlates of transpersonal experiences in four creedal groups. Doctoral thesis. University of Leicester.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Abstract: Attributes associated with mystical experience among Christians, Buddhists, Jews and Pagans are explored in psychometric data presented in this thesis. Two such attributes in particular, the personality trait of psychoticism and attitudes held towards mysticism, are given focal attention. Psychoticism, a trait at one time supposedly linked with vulnerability to psychosis, has been much assessed in previous research into religiosity- personality correlates, and a more recent emerging literature has assessed this trait in relationship to religious experience. However, as this thesis clarifies, good grounds exist for challenging the view that this is a homogeneous trait. Assessments of traits relating to distinct facets of psychoticism, specifically the three traits of agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience, provided solid grounds for taking apparently significant positive correlations between mystical experience and psychoticism as evidence that the former is associated with creativity rather than psychosis. In each religious group studied, a significant positive correlation was found between attitudes to mysticism and mystical experience. However, this thesis also presents grounds for distinguishing these concepts. The possibility that psychoticism relates in different ways to these constructs, and the implications this has for the question of whether mysticism arises through social learning or reflects an innate tendency invariant across creed, are considered
Additional Information: This University of Northampton thesis was validated by the University of Leicester
Uncontrolled Keywords: Psychology of religion; spirituality psychology
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF204.7 Transpersonal psychology
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion > BL51 Philosophy of religion. Psychology of religion. Religion in relation to other subjects
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion > BL624 Religious life. Religious experience > BL625 Mysticism
Creators: Edwards, Anthony
Department: Research Centre > Centre for the Study of Anomalous Psychological Processes School of Social Sciences > Theses
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society > Theses (Health & Society)
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Centre for the Study of Anomalous Psychological Processes
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > School of Social Sciences (to 2016) > Theses
Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences
Date: 2005
Date Type: Completion
Language: English
Status: Unpublished
Institution: University of Leicester
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/2786

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