The Rasch scaling of mystical experiences: Construct validity and correlates of the Mystical Experience Scale (MES)
International Journal for the Psychology of Religion 2007 DOI: 10.1080/10508610701244130 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 778 |
| Population | Survey respondents |
| Measures | Mystical Experiences Scale |
| Topics | Mystical experience |
| Key findings | Mystical experiences are Rasch scalable, with a 19-item set yielding interval measures. Older respondents reported more intense experiences (effect size 0.22 SD), with no gender effect or interaction. Mystical experience correlated most with magical ideation, and also with positive affect and mania. |
Abstract
Based on the data from 778 respondents, it was shown that mystical experiences as addressed by CitationThalbourne's (1991) Mystical Experiences Scale are Rasch scalable, and an unbiased set of 19 items was identified that yields intensity measures at an interval level of measurement. Construct validity was established by demonstrating that the Rasch dimension has unambiguous semantics that agrees with Thalbourne's (2002) definition of mystical experiences. Specifically, the lowest intensity levels refer to general experiences of happiness and experiences that are difficult to interpret, intermediate levels are characterized by experiences of love for humanity, and the highest levels refer to having special wisdom and powers of discernment. On average, older respondents (age 19 or older) reported more intense mystical experiences than did younger respondents (the effect size is 0.22 SD). However, no gender main effect or Age × Gender interaction was found. Competitive model tests indicated that mystical experience differs conceptually from variables like positive affect, negative affect, magical ideation, history of mania, and history of depression. Mystical experience correlated highest with magical ideation, and nonnegligibly with positive affect and mania, thus suggesting that mystical experiences revolve around a psyche that is attempting to heal itself by combining positive affect with a nonstandard interpretation of reality.
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 6
- Understanding the Nature of Oneness Experience in Meditators Using Collective Intelligence Methods Frontiers in Psychology September 17, 2020
- Adversarial Collaboration on a Drake-S Equation for the Survival Question Journal of Scientific Exploration May 22, 2022
- Operationalizing near‑death experiences: Stability of the NDE Rasch hierarchy over two decades. Consciousness and Cognition January 18, 2026
- The exploration of mystical experiences among religious preachers INSPIRA September 5, 2022
- Characteristics of Kundalini-Related Sensory, Motor, and Affective Experiences During Tantric Yoga Meditation. Frontiers in Psychology June 30, 2022
and 1 more in the library
Cites 6
- The Varieties of Religious Experience July 26, 2012
- A Community Mail Survey of Psychic Experiences July 5, 2017
- A Rasch scaling validation of a ‘core’ near‐death experience British Journal of Psychology May 1, 2004
- Near-Death Experience Journal of Interpersonal Violence July 1, 2001
- The revised transliminality scale: reliability and validity data from a Rasch top-down purification procedure. Consciousness and Cognition December 1, 2000
and 1 more in the library