Craig D. Murray

2 papers in the library · 38 citations · publishing 2005-2008

Papers

The evolving self: finding meaning in near-death experiences using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Mental Health Religion & Culture December 8, 2008 David J. Wilde, Craig D. Murray 38 citations

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are increasingly studied, but most research takes a nomothetic approach, focusing on general patterns. This study used interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore how three women made sense of their NDEs and the after-effects. Rather than uniformly leading to personal and spiritual growth, individuals selectively incorporate elements that are most personally meaningful. The integration of the experience is shaped by physical and psychological factors at the time of the NDE, and the experience can challenge a person's sense of self, affecting how they maintain and develop their identity in the years afterward.

DOI: 10.1080/13674670802334910 Full text

The out-of-body experience and body image: differences between experiments and nonexperiments.

The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease January 1, 2005 Craig D. Murray, Jezz Fox

People who have had an out-of-body experience (OBE) tend to have more negative body image than those who have not. In a study of 64 participants, 34 who reported a previous OBE scored higher on body dissatisfaction, social physique anxiety, and somatoform dissociation, and lower on physical self-presentation. During an immersive virtual reality session, OBE experiencers also reported lower body awareness than nonexperiencers. These findings suggest that OBEs may be linked to persistent differences in how individuals perceive and relate to their bodies.

DOI: 10.1097/01.nmd.0000149223.77469.da Full text