Perspectives on Psychological Science
February 13, 2020
Ann Taves
127 citations
Experiences often labeled 'mystical' may not be a unique, special category but rather a form of ego dissolution—an alteration in the sense of self—similar to changes induced by psychoactive drugs and meditation. The idea that mystical experiences are sui generis rests on two self-report scales that operationalize a metaphysically untestable construct. To better understand unusual experiences across disciplines and cultures, new self-report measures are needed that separate generic descriptions of experiences from how individuals appraise their valence, significance, cause, and long-term effects.
Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science
June 2, 2009
Ann Taves
13 citations
William James's The Varieties of Religious Experience struggled to be understood by contemporaries because it was unclear whether it was science or theology. James used an ambiguous concept of the subconscious to bridge religion and science, but this alone does not explain the book's obscure overarching question, its emphasis on psychopathology and unusual experiences, or its many examples and sparse argument. Reading the book in the context of the transatlantic network of experimental psychologists and psychical researchers, especially Frederic Myers, clarifies its underlying question.
Zygon
December 3, 2025
Ann Taves
2 citations
Owen Flanagan's *The Really Hard Problem* continues a tradition, exemplified by William James, of addressing spiritual meaning outside organized religion. Both philosophers argue that the sciences of the mind do not threaten meaning or human growth. James used the subconscious to bridge science and religion, persuading readers of a transcendent 'More'; Flanagan uses a scientific understanding of transcendence to advocate for a naturalistic spirituality, or 'Less'. The author finds Flanagan's attempt to link psychological and sociocultural levels via transcendence scientifically premature but argues that his naturalistic spirituality raises definitional questions scholars of religion must take seriously.
Communications Psychology
May 8, 2026
Ronald Fischer, Giovanna Bortolini, Tiago Bortolini et al.
Nonordinary experiences (NOEs) such as déjà vu, intense compassion, and out-of-body sensations are common in the general population, but how researchers ask about them greatly affects reported prevalence. A mental health framing and yes/no response options both lower prevalence rates, while item clarity raises them. Across six studies totaling over 37,000 participants, déjà vu and unusually intense experiences of compassion and love were most prevalent (over 70%), while perceptions of animated objects, devotion to objects or individuals, out-of-body experiences, and seeing lights were rarer (over 13%). Despite framing and response-format effects, relative lifetime prevalence can be estimated consistently. The findings provide a validated tool for systematically identifying these experiences to study consciousness in real-world contexts.