What is it about?
Mystical experiences and near-death experiences have been among the most controversial issues throughout the history of mankind. Their nature and the mechanisms behind are important to be understood. In this study the potential roles of history of trauma and abuse and dissociation in mystical experiences and near-death experiences is investigated.
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Why is it important?
The paper attempts to clarify the relationship between trauma, dissociation, mystical experiences and near-death experiences. It was found that those participants with either mystical experiences or near-death experiences scored significantly higher than those without such experiences on all dissociative measures, but not on the trauma-related measures and absorption. This indicates that dissociation is a common feature in mystical experiences and near-death experiences.
Perspectives
More investigations are needed in order to gain more knowledge of the dissociative dynamics, both benign and pathogenic, involved in these experiences—especially to identify to what extent these experiences might counterbalance the negative effects of trauma. There is an assumption that trauma can lead to spiritual transformation and spiritual growth, also known as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Another line is to examine the notion that certain experiences and behaviors elicited in spiritual and mystical practices have traumatological components at their core, and thus, can be considered as expressions of complex dissociative defense mechanisms.
Habib Niyaraq Nobakht
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: An exploration of the roles of trauma and dissociation in mystical experiences and near-death experiences, Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, February 2018, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/19349637.2018.1439796.
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