Age Differences in Mystical Experience
The Gerontologist August 1, 1993 DOI: 10.1093/geront/33.4.507 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMystical experiences such as déjà vu, ESP, clairvoyance, spiritualism, and numinous experiences are somewhat more common in the late 1980s than in the early 1970s. Among 1,481 respondents to the 1988 General Social Survey, younger age cohorts report more déjà vu, clairvoyance, and overall mystical experiences than older cohorts. Private and subjective religiosity are positively linked to overall mystical experience, whereas organizational religiosity (e.g., church attendance) is inversely related.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,481 |
| Population | U.S. adults surveyed in the 1988 General Social Survey |
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Keywords | Déjà vu Spiritualism Numinous Religiosity |
| Citations | 29 |
| Key finding | Déjà vu, clairvoyance, and a composite mysticism score increase with successively younger age cohorts, and private religiosity is positively associated with mystical experience while organizational religiosity is inversely associated. |
Abstract
Age differences are examined in reports of deja vu, ESP, clairvoyance, spiritualism, and numinous experience. According to the 1988 General Social Survey (N = 1481), these mystical experiences are somewhat more common now than in 1973, and deja vu, clairvoyance, and a composite mysticism score have increased with successively younger age cohorts. Further, private and subjective religiosity are positively related to overall mystical experience, while organizational religiosity is inversely related.