Ego, moral, and faith development in near-death experiencers: Three case studies
Journal of Near-Death Studies December 1, 1988 R. D. Newsome
Near-death experiencers often report lasting shifts toward greater compassion, unconditional love, spirituality, and a sense of mission, alongside reduced materialism and competitiveness. Some researchers propose these changes represent a new stage in human evolution capable of producing major social change, but evidence has relied on subjective reports. This study examined three near-death experiencers using standardized measures of moral, ego, and faith development alongside qualitative data. The results suggest that existing instruments, designed to measure ordinary self-development, may not capture the transpersonal awakening that follows a near-death experience.