Development and validation of a plateau experience psychometric to investigate the effect of shinrin-yoku on depression
Transpersonal Psychology Review January 1, 2020 Scott Buckler, April Woodward
Transpersonal psychology should develop empirical research on transpersonal practices. Self-actualisation, peak experience, and flow have been studied mainly with psychometrics, but these concepts have theoretical and methodological problems. Maslow's concept of self-transcendence, characterized by the plateau experience, offers an alternative for future research but has remained obscure for forty years. This paper advocates further study of the plateau experience by first defining it, then developing a plateau experience psychometric (PLEX), and using the PLEX in a validation study on the effects of shinrin-yoku (forest air breathing/bathing).