Defining near-death experiences
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Citations | 42 |
| Key points | Argues that current definitions of near-death experiences are circular and conflate description, measurement, and diagnosis, requiring a new accepted definition and fixed-interval scale. |
Abstract
Researchers have failed to distinguish definitions of near-death experiences (NDEs), criteria for identifying them and tests of those criteria. Few researchers specify criteria or apply standard tests; those who do often use those tests inappropriately. Tests of NDEs may either describe their common features, measure their depth, or 'diagnose' their occurrence; all three have been used to define NDEs, although they serve different purposes. Since we do not have a dichotomous diagnostic test for NDEs, researchers define NDEs by scales summing characteristic elements, a circular definition that uses intervening variables in place of NDEs themselves, and begs questions of different elements' sensitivity and specificity for NDEs. Researchers need to identify the critical dimension(s) to be assessed in determining depth of NDEs and develop an accepted definition of the phenomenon and a fixed-interval scale with which to measure it.