Peak Experiences: Some Empirical Tests

Most people report having had a peak experience, but some are more oriented toward peaking than others. Peakers are more likely to say their lives are very meaningful, to think about life's purpose, to feel they know that purpose, and to spend time meditating. They also rate themselves higher on personal talents and capabilities. Peakers value material possessions, high pay, job security, fame, and having many friends less than nonpeakers do, but they value working for social change, solving social problems, and helping people in need more. These differences are not explained by education, age, employment, sex, or marital status. The findings support Maslow's idea that peaking is associated with self-actualization and affects values.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article presents evidence from a random sample survey of the San Franciscio Bay Area on some of the differences between people who claim to have had intense peak experiences and people who have not had such experiences. The data indicate that most people have had some kind of peak experience, but some people seem clearly to be more oriented toward "peaking" than others. Peakers tend more often than nonpeakers to say their lives are very meaningful, that they think about the meaning and purpose of life and feel they know what the purpose of life is, and that they spend time meditating. They also score higher on self-rated adjectives concerning personal talents and capabilities. In other words, the data seems consistent with Maslow's suggestion that peaking may be associated with self-actualization. The data also tends to support some of Maslow's assertions about the possible effects of peak experiences on values. In particular, peakers are less likely than nonpeakers to say they value material possessions, high pay, job security, being famous, and having a lot of friends. They are more likely, however, to say they value working for social changes, helping to solve social problems, and helping people in need. These differences do not seem to be attributable merely to other differences between peakers and nonpeakers, such as differences in education, age, employment, sex, or marital status.