The moderating role of mystical-type experiences on the relationship between existential isolation and meaning in life

Alex Sielaff; Dylan E. Horner; Jeff Greenberg

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2021.111347

The moderating role of mystical-type experiences on the relationship between existential isolation and meaning in life

Alex Sielaff, Dylan E. Horner, Jeff Greenberg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Mystical-type experiences (MTEs) are unique phenomenological experiences that are often reported to induce significant and persisting changes in the experiencer's worldview. Previous research suggests that higher levels of existential isolation (EI) are associated with lower levels of meaning in life (MIL). This study examines the hypothesis that people who have had an MTE (compared with those who have not) will not show such a relationship between EI and MIL. Data from two samples (N = 2055) support the idea that those who have not had an MTE show a negative relationship between EI and MIL while those who have had an MTE show no relationship between EI and MIL. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	111347
Journal	Personality and Individual Differences
Volume	186
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111347
State	Published - Feb 2022

Keywords

Existential isolation
Existential psychology
Meaning
Mystical experience
Psychedelics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Psychology(all)

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10.1016/j.paid.2021.111347

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title = "The moderating role of mystical-type experiences on the relationship between existential isolation and meaning in life",

abstract = "Mystical-type experiences (MTEs) are unique phenomenological experiences that are often reported to induce significant and persisting changes in the experiencer's worldview. Previous research suggests that higher levels of existential isolation (EI) are associated with lower levels of meaning in life (MIL). This study examines the hypothesis that people who have had an MTE (compared with those who have not) will not show such a relationship between EI and MIL. Data from two samples (N = 2055) support the idea that those who have not had an MTE show a negative relationship between EI and MIL while those who have had an MTE show no relationship between EI and MIL. Implications and future directions are discussed.",

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AU - Sielaff, Alex

AU - Horner, Dylan E.

AU - Greenberg, Jeff

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N2 - Mystical-type experiences (MTEs) are unique phenomenological experiences that are often reported to induce significant and persisting changes in the experiencer's worldview. Previous research suggests that higher levels of existential isolation (EI) are associated with lower levels of meaning in life (MIL). This study examines the hypothesis that people who have had an MTE (compared with those who have not) will not show such a relationship between EI and MIL. Data from two samples (N = 2055) support the idea that those who have not had an MTE show a negative relationship between EI and MIL while those who have had an MTE show no relationship between EI and MIL. Implications and future directions are discussed.

AB - Mystical-type experiences (MTEs) are unique phenomenological experiences that are often reported to induce significant and persisting changes in the experiencer's worldview. Previous research suggests that higher levels of existential isolation (EI) are associated with lower levels of meaning in life (MIL). This study examines the hypothesis that people who have had an MTE (compared with those who have not) will not show such a relationship between EI and MIL. Data from two samples (N = 2055) support the idea that those who have not had an MTE show a negative relationship between EI and MIL while those who have had an MTE show no relationship between EI and MIL. Implications and future directions are discussed.

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KW - Psychedelics

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The moderating role of mystical-type experiences on the relationship between existential isolation and meaning in life

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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