Comprehensive Literature Review: Transpersonal Psychology, Transpersonal Psychotherapy, and Transpersonal Hypnotherapy (1960s–2026)
Preprints.org February 27, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.20944/preprints202602.1892.v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review |
|---|---|
| Topics | Shamanism |
| Keywords | Transpersonal psychology Consciousness Scholarship Mainstream Experiential learning Empirical research Psychotherapist Field mathematics Epistemology Spirituality |
| Key findings | Transpersonal psychology has evolved from early explorations of altered states to a sophisticated framework integrating spiritual and consciousness dimensions, with opportunities in neuroscience and evidence-based practice but challenges in empirical validation and mainstream acceptance. |
Abstract
This comprehensive literature review synthesizes the published scholarship on transpersonal psychology, transpersonal psychotherapy, and transpersonal hypnotherapy from the field's inception in the 1960s through 2026. Drawing from 283 unique scholarly sources across multiple databases, this review examines the theoretical foundations, philosophical underpinnings, clinical applications, therapeutic techniques, research methodologies, and empirical evidence that have shaped this discipline over six decades. Transpersonal psychology emerged as a "fourth force" in psychology, integrating spiritual and consciousness dimensions into psychological understanding and practice. The field has evolved from early explorations of altered states of consciousness to encompass a sophisticated framework addressing human transcendence, wholeness, and transformation across diverse cultural contexts. Key contributions include the development of experiential psychotherapies, consciousness research methodologies, and integrative models bridging Eastern and Western wisdom traditions. The review identifies significant opportunities in neuroscience integration, cross-cultural applications, and evidence-based practice development, while acknowledging challenges in empirical validation, theoretical coherence, and mainstream acceptance. This synthesis provides practitioners, researchers, and scholars with a comprehensive understanding of the field's evolution, current state, and future directions.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on shamanism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping review on shamanistic trances practices. | 2024 | Systematic review | |
| Shamanism as a Clinical Intervention: A Scoping Review | 2025 | Systematic review | |
| Antinociceptive Efficacy of Shamanic Healing for the Management of Temporomandibular Disorders: An Evidence-Based Review. Females with temporomandibular disorders, mean age 38.3 years | 2024 | Systematic review | n = 3 |
| Ethnomedicinal and Shamanism in Bhotia Tribes Bhotia tribes in Uttarakhand's trans-Himalayan valleys | 2023 | Systematic review |