Differential Triggering of Mystical Experience as a Function of Self Actualization

Abstract

The relationship between self actualization and reported mystical experience was investigated in two independent samples. In the first sample of 87 Ss a measure of reported mystical experience significantly correlated with a measure of self actualization. A second sample of 100 Ss was purposively selected to represent relatively high and low self actualization among persons reporting equally intense mystical experiences. Categorizations of factors triggering mystical experiences in these two groups indicated that persons of relatively high self actualization were more likely to have mystical experiences triggered by drug or sexual experiences while persons of relatively low self actualization were more likely to have mystical experiences triggered by religious or nature settings. There was no difference betwen high and low self actualization in the triggering of mys