Ego, moral, and faith development in near-death experiencers: Three case studies

Near-death experiencers often report lasting shifts toward greater compassion, unconditional love, spirituality, and a sense of mission, alongside reduced materialism and competitiveness. Some researchers propose these changes represent a new stage in human evolution capable of producing major social change, but evidence has relied on subjective reports. This study examined three near-death experiencers using standardized measures of moral, ego, and faith development alongside qualitative data. The results suggest that existing instruments, designed to measure ordinary self-development, may not capture the transpersonal awakening that follows a near-death experience.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Near-death experiencers (NDErs) commonly report shifts in basic values and attitudes, toward intensified compassion and a sense of unconditional love, sprituality, and a sense of mission, and away from materialism and competitiveness. Some researchers have suggested that these attitudinal shifts represent a new stage in human evolution, which will produce major social change. However, knowledge of these reputed NDE aftereffects has been based on NDErs' subjective reports, unverified by objective measures. This study examined relationships between three NDErs' levels of moral, ego, and faith development, as measured by standardized instruments, and extensive qualitative data describing their NDEs and personal attributes. The results suggest that currently available instruments, designed to measure the lower self, may not reflect the awakening to a transpersonal plane of functioning that follows an NDE.