Mapping nonordinary experiences in a representative German sample: Phenomenology, prevalence and links to self-transcendence
Marc Wittmann, Julie Papastamatelou, Sepideh Ravahi, Liane Hofmann, Cecilia Bastos
PsyArXiv June 17, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/c7u69_v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 440 |
| Population | Representative German sample |
| Measures | Inventory of Nonordinary Experiences (INOE), Questionnaire on the Phenomenology of Exceptional Experiences (PExE-II), Inventory of Secular/Spiritual Wakefulness (WAKE-16) |
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key findings | Nonordinary experiences were widely distributed in a representative German sample, with exceptionally strong emotional experiences (e.g., awe, love, loss) most frequently reported and explicitly anomalous phenomena (e.g., telepathy, sensed presences) less common but still notable at 10–30% prevalence. INOE domains correlated positively with PExE-II dimensions, and the INOE significantly positively predicted WAKE-16 scores in structural equation modelling, which the authors interpret as an association between nonordinary experiences and self-transcendent personality development. |
Abstract
This study investigated the prevalence, phenomenology, and potential transformative significance of nonordinary experiences in a representative German sample. Across cultures and historical periods, such experiences have been widely reported and often culturally valued. To assess these phenomena, the study employed the Inventory of Nonordinary Experiences (INOE; Taves et al., 2023), a phenomenologically grounded instrument that focuses on subjective experiential qualities rather than explanatory frameworks. The INOE was administered alongside two validated measures: the Questionnaire on the Phenomenology of Exceptional Experiences (PExE-II), which assesses frequency and types of anomalous experiences, and the Inventory of Secular/Spiritual Wakefulness (WAKE-16), which measures positive self-transformation. Data from 440 participants revealed that nonordinary experiences are widely distributed. Exceptionally strong emotional experiences (e.g., awe, love, loss) were most frequently reported, while explicitly anomalous phenomena (e.g., telepathy, sensed presences) were less common but still notable, with prevalence rates of 10–30%. Correlational analyses showed positive associations between INOE domains and PExE-II dimensions, indicating that experiences more prevalent in the population tend to occur more frequently within individuals. In structural equation modelling, the INOE emerged as a significant positive predictor of the WAKE-16, indicating an association between nonordinary experiences and self-transcendent personality development. Overall, the findings support the perspective that nonordinary experiences constitute a widespread and meaningful aspect of human experience. While frequently interpreted within culture-specific and spiritual frameworks, they may play a role in psychological growth and transformation. The study further acknowledges methodological limitations and underscores the need for additional research into contextual and causal mechanisms.
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|---|---|---|---|
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| The Phenomenology of Lucid Dreaming: An Online Survey Respondents to an online survey about lucid dreams | 2014 | Online survey | n = 684 |
| The neurophenomenology of early psychosis: An integrative empirical study. Ultra-high risk for psychosis patients, first episode psychosis patients, and healthy... | 2019 | Cross-sectional | n = 123 |
| Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Phenomenology, Altered States, Individual Differences, and Well-Being People reporting their most powerful Spontaneous Spiritual or Kundalini Awakening | 2021 | Mixed within and between-participants self-report survey design | n = 152 |