Phenomenology of Near-death Experiences: A Cross-cultural Perspective
John Belanti, Mahendra Perera, Karuppiah Jagadheesan
Transcultural Psychiatry March 1, 2008 DOI: 10.1177/1363461507088001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Near-death experience Philosophy of mind |
| Citations | 64 |
| Key findings | Near-death experiences show both common themes and cultural differences, with variability likely due to interpretation through cultural and linguistic filters. |
Abstract
Near-death experiences (NDEs) include a set of subjective experiences encountered by people who were close to death or were faced with life-threatening situations. Reports have suggested that the phenomenology of NDE might differ across cultures. This article is aimed at providing an updated phenomenological perspective by comparing NDEs in a cross-cultural context. We compared the various descriptions of NDEs from a phenomenological perspective. There were similarities between particular cultures, which differed from typical western European experiences. This article concludes that although there are common themes, there are also reported differences in NDEs. The variability across cultures is most likely to be due to our interpretation and verbalizing of such esoteric events through the filters of language, cultural experiences, religion, education and their influence on our belief systems either shedding influence as an individual variable or more often perhaps by their rich interplay between these factors.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distressing Near-Death Experiences | 1992 | Review | |
| Attitude Change Following Near-Death Experiences Individuals who have had near-death experiences | 1980 | Review | n = 21 |
| Near-death experiences. | 2004 | Review | |
| The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences | 2009 | Review | |
| Near-death experiences in cardiac arrest survivors | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 31
- Neurochemical models of near-death experiences: A large-scale study based on the semantic similarity of written reports. Consciousness and Cognition March 1, 2019
- Near-Death Experience as a Probe to Explore (Disconnected) Consciousness Trends in Cognitive Sciences January 22, 2020
- Near-death experiences between science and prejudice Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Fantasy Proneness Correlates With the Intensity of Near-Death Experience Frontiers in Psychiatry June 7, 2018
- The Near-Death Experience Content (NDE-C) scale: Development and psychometric validation Consciousness and Cognition November 1, 2020
and 26 more in the library
Cites 20
- Near-death experience in survivors of cardiac arrest: a prospective study in the Netherlands The Lancet December 1, 2001
- Otherworld Journeys: Accounts of Near-Death Experience in Medieval and Modern Times Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion December 1, 1987
- A Review of the Nonmedical Use of Ketamine: Use, Users and Consequences Journal of Psychoactive Drugs December 1, 2000
- A Rasch scaling validation of a ‘core’ near‐death experience British Journal of Psychology May 1, 2004
- Near-Death Experiences in India The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease March 1, 1986
and 15 more in the library