scholarly journals Absorption, Mentalizing, and Mysticism: Sensing the Presence of the Divine

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Joseph Coleman ◽  
James Edward Bartlett ◽  
Jenny Holcombe ◽  
Sally B. Swanson ◽  
Andrew Ross Atkinson ◽  
...  

Research suggests trait absorption, individual differences in Theory of Mind (ToM), and orthopraxical training are important for explaining a variety of extraordinary experiences typically associated with religion. However, no studies exist quantifying ToM ability or testing its relationship with trait absorption in the prediction of what is arguably the most ubiquitous type of extraordinary experience—the mystical experience. To address this, two exploratory studies were conducted using a sample of meditators (N = 269) and undergraduate students (N = 123). In study one, regression analyses revealed weekly religious/spiritual practice, absorption, and mentalizing predict increased mystical experiences. Moreover, moderation analysis indicated the absorption-mysticism relationship is stronger among individuals with lower mentalizing ability. Study two only replicated the relationship of absorption and weekly practice with mysticism. These studies highlight the robust contribution of absorption in mystical experiences and suggest a more dynamic role for mentalizing than is accounted for in the current literature.

1998 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 807-818 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Houran ◽  
Carl Williams

We examined the relationship of tolerance of ambiguity to severe global factors and specific types of anomalous or paranormal experience. 107 undergraduate students completed MacDonald's 1970 AT-20 and the Anomalous Experiences Inventory of Kumar, Pekala, and Gallagher. Scores on the five subscales of the Anomalous Experiences Inventory correlated differently with tolerance of ambiguity. Global paranormal beliefs, abilities, experiences, and drug use were positively associated with tolerance of ambiguity, whereas a fear of paranormal experience showed a negative relation. The specific types of anomalous experiences that correlated with tolerance of ambiguity often involved internal or physiological experience, e.g., precognitive dreams, memories of reincarnation, visual apparitions, and vestibular alterations. We generally found no effects of age or sex. These results are consistent with the idea that some paranormal experiences are misattributions of internal experience to external (‘paranormal’) sources, a process analogous to mechanisms underpinning delusions and hallucinations.


2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl E. Sanders ◽  
Bill C. Henry

The current study sought to examine the relationship between behavioral difficulties, animal abuse, and bullying among women. Five hundred female undergraduate students enrolled in Introductory Psychology completed surveys assessing animal abuse experiences, bullying behaviors, and victimization of bullying during their K-12 school years. Participants also completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire which evaluated their behavioral difficulties. Results revealed a significant relationship between animal abuse, bullying, and victimization experiences. Moreover, animal abusers displayed significantly more behavioral problems when compared to non-abusers. Results from regression analyses indicated that animal abuse, bullying and victimization were significant predictors of various behavioral issues. These results suggest that behavioral difficulties associated with female animal abusers are similar to those related to male perpetrators.


1978 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 317-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip G. Romine ◽  
Orville Crowell

The study investigated the construct validity of the California Psychological Inventory person-orientation and value-orientation scales by examining their relationships to Eysenck's extraversion and neuroticism dimensions. Both inventories were administered to 211 undergraduate students. While there was obviously a moderate relationship of .51 to .54 between the Person Orientation scores and Eysenck's extraversion, only about 25% of the variance in each of the two scales was common. The magnitude of the relationship between the Value Orientation scale and neurotic-extravert/stable-introvert group membership was slightly greater.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-120
Author(s):  
Saidurrahman Saidurrahman

Abstract: Knowledge of the presence (ḥuḍūrī) with mystical experience as describe above is deemed the most popular models of knowledge in Islamic philosophy at the same coloring methodology and epistemology of Islam. Through logical arguments, semantic analysis and epistemo¬logy sharp Suhrawardī considered very successfully demonstrate authenticity huduri science as a science model of non-representational. Among the classical epistemological problems that have not been resolved until now -but able to be dissected in clear and distinct- is about the relationship of subject and object of knowledge, that is the problem more acute in modern Western philosophy. What is interesting is when when to review the issues very carefully and consistently Mehdi directing and bringing the students (who interest in Islamic philosophy) into the recesses of the inner world and the dialogue with the depth of their own existence. It is undeniable that Ha'iri Mehdi Yazdi take existentialist philosophy illumination Suhrawardī and MullaṢadrā as a main reference, as he learned the lesson of Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Ibn Sīnā, and al-Ṭūsī, citing the idea of a number of Western philosophers were actually familiar with the science huduri that he wanted to offer. However unique, he expertly directs their ideas to the conclusion that it is inevitable for us to acknowledge the existence of non - phenomenal knowledge. Abstrak:Pengetahuan dengan kehadiran (ḥuḍūrī) dibarengai pengalaman mistik seperti yang paprkan diatas dipandang model pengetahuan yang paling populer dalam filsafat Islam sekaligus mewarnai metodologi dan epistemologi Islam. Melalui argumen-argumen logis, analisis semantik dan epistemologi yang tajam Suhrawardī dipandang sangat berhasil mendemonstrasikan keautentikan ilmu huduri sebagai sebuah model ilmu non-representasional. Diantara problem-problem klasik episte-mologis yang belum terselesaikan hingga kini—tetapi mampu dibedah secara clear dan distink—adalah tentang hubungan subjek dan objek pengetahuan, yang problemnya makin akut dalam filsafat Barat modern. Yang menarik adalah ketika ketika mengulas masalah-masalah itu Mehdi sangat cermat dan konsisten mengarahkan dan membawa para murid-muridnya (peminat filsafat Islam) memasuki relung-relung dunia batin dan berdialog dengan kedalaman eksistensi mereka sendiri. Tak dapat dipungkiri bahwa Mehdi Ha’iri Yazdi mengambil filsafat iluminasi Suhrawardī dan eksistensialis MullaṢadrā sebagai acuan utamanya, seraya memetik pelajaran dari Plato, aristoteles, Plotinus, Ibn Sīnā, dan al-Ṭūsī, mengutip gagasan sejumlah filosof Barat yang sebetulnya asing dengan ilmu ḥuḍūrī yang hendak ia tawarkan. Akan tetapi uniknya, dengan piawai ia mengarahkan gagasan-gagasan mereka kepada penarik¬an kesimpulan bahwa adalah tak terelakkan bagi kita untuk mengakui eksistensi pengetahuan non-fenomenal itu. Keywords: ilmu ḥuḍūrī, khazanah, epistemologi, cogito ergo sum, atheisme.


2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kia Aarnio ◽  
Marjaana Lindeman

This study aimed at clarifying the relationship between religious and paranormal beliefs, on which previous studies have yielded varying results. It was examined whether the relationship varies by the level of religiousness, and individual differences between religious and paranormal believers and sceptics were compared. Finnish participants (N = 3261) filled in an Internet-based questionnaire. The results showed that the relationship between religious and paranormal beliefs was positive among paranormal believers and sceptics but negative among religious people. High intuitive thinking, low analytical thinking, mystical experiences, and close others' positive attitude toward the supernatural distinguished both kinds of believers from the sceptics, while conservation and self-transcendence values distinguished religious people from paranormal believers.


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