Measurement and Incidence of Mystical Experiences: An Exploratory Study
L. Eugene Thomas, Pamela E. Cooper
Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion December 1, 1978 DOI: 10.2307/1385407 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 302 |
| Population | Young adults |
| Topics | Mystical experience |
| Citations | 41 |
| Key findings | A third of respondents reported an intense spiritual experience on a structured item, but open-ended descriptions included a mix of classical mystical, trivial, psychic, and faith-related experiences, highlighting the need for better measurement methods. |
Abstract
The study explored types and incidence of intense experiences reported by normal adults. A structured question developed by Greeley (1974) and an open-ended question asking respondents to describe their experiences were completed by 302 young adults. A third of the respondents indicated on the structured item that they had had an intense spiritual experience, a percentage similar to that found by (Creeley with a national sample. Content analysis of the open-ended responses showed these to include classical mystical experiences, irrelevant or trivial experiences, psychic experiences, and Faith and Consolation experiences. The findings reaffirm the need for more careful development of measurement techniques before conclusions about the incidence of mystical experiences can be reached.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on mystical experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neural correlates of a mystical experience in Carmelite nuns Carmelite nuns | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| EEG activity in Carmelite nuns during a mystical experience Carmelite nuns | 2008 | Observational cohort | n = 14 |
| Neural correlates of mystical experience Vietnam veterans with penetrating traumatic brain injury and matched healthy controls | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 148 |
| The Peak Experience Variable in DPT-Assisted Psychotherapy with Cancer Patients Cancer patients | 1977 | Observational study | n = 128 |
| Psilocybin-Induced Mystical-Type Experiences are Related to Persisting Positive Effects: A Quantitative and Qualitative Report Healthy volunteers | 2022 | Observational cohort | n = 28 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Mystical Experience in the Lab Method & Theory in the Study of Religion September 4, 2014
- The language of ineffability: Linguistic analysis of mystical experiences. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality July 27, 2015
- Psychosis or Spiritual Emergency: The Potential of Developmental Psychopathology for Differential Diagnosis International Journal of Transpersonal Studies September 1, 2017
- Mysticism and mental health: A critical dialogue HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies August 12, 2010
- From self-transcendent emotions to transcendent experiences: an exploratory study in the continuity between everyday and mystical experiences Philosophical Psychology November 6, 2025
and 3 more in the library