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Age Differences in Mystical Experience

Jeffrey S. Levin

The Gerontologist August 1, 1993 DOI: 10.1093/geront/33.4.507 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed
Sample size 1,481
Population U.S. adults surveyed in the 1988 General Social Survey
Topics Mysticism Mystical experience
Keywords Déjà vu Spiritualism Numinous Religiosity Religious experience Religious studies Theology Cognitive psychology
Citations 29
Key findings Déjà vu, clairvoyance, and a composite mysticism score increase with successively younger age cohorts, and private religiosity is positively associated with mystical experience while organizational religiosity is inversely associated.

Abstract

Age differences are examined in reports of deja vu, ESP, clairvoyance, spiritualism, and numinous experience. According to the 1988 General Social Survey (N = 1481), these mystical experiences are somewhat more common now than in 1973, and deja vu, clairvoyance, and a composite mysticism score have increased with successively younger age cohorts. Further, private and subjective religiosity are positively related to overall mystical experience, while organizational religiosity is inversely related.

Comparable studies

Other cross-sectional and survey studies on mystical experience, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Of Roots and Fruits: A Comparison of Psychedelic and Nonpsychedelic Mystical Experiences Self-selected participants who reported a religious, spiritual, or mystical experience 2016 Cross-sectional survey n = 739
Illicit Use of LSD or Psilocybin, but not MDMA or Nonpsychedelic Drugs, is Associated with Mystical Experiences in a Dose-Dependent Manner Adults recruited from the MAPS website and newsletter, most reporting use of various... 2012 Cross-sectional survey n = 337
Peak Experiences: Some Empirical Tests Random sample of adults in the San Francisco Bay Area 1978 Cross-sectional survey
Peak Experience Tendencies 1982 Cross-sectional survey
Rhythmic Chanting and Mystical States across Traditions. Regular chanters across 33 countries 2021 Cross-sectional survey n = 464

Citations in the library

Cited by 4

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