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The nature of peak experience in wilderness.

Matthew G. McDonald, Stephen Wearing, Jess Ponting

The Humanistic Psychologist October 1, 2009 DOI: 10.1080/08873260701828912 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Qualitative study Peer reviewed
Sample size 39
Population Participants who had visited wilderness areas in Victoria, Australia, recruited via a voluntary wilderness registration system
Topics Mystical experience
Citations 136
Key findings The aesthetic qualities of the wilderness setting and being away from the pressures, people, distractions, and concerns of the human-made world were key elements in participants' peak experiences. The authors indicate that wilderness settings provide a mix of aesthetic pleasure and renewal that can trigger peak experiences, providing a basis for individual spiritual expression.

Abstract

This study sought to identify the distinctive elements of wilderness settings that contribute to triggering peak experiences. Thirty-nine participants who had visited wilderness areas were recruited using a voluntary wilderness registration system operated by the Victorian National Parks Service, Australia. Using a postal survey, participants were asked to provide a written response to an open-ended question requesting them to describe, in their own words, a peak experience in the wilderness. A conventional approach to qualitative content analysis of the participants descriptions revealed that the aesthetic qualities of the wilderness setting and being away from the pressures, people, distractions, and concerns of the human-made world were key elements in their peak experiences. To gain an understanding of this phenomenon, the concept and theory of restorative environments was applied to the participants experiences. This analysis indicates that wilderness settings provide a mix of aesthetic pleasure and renewal that can lead to a triggering of peak experiences that provides the basis for individual spiritual expression.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on mystical experience, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Qualitative and Quantitative Features of Music Reported to Support Peak Mystical Experiences during Psychedelic Therapy Sessions Individuals with extensive experience administering psilocybin or psilocybin-containing... 2017 Survey and qualitative/quantitative analysis n = 10
Cannabis as entheogen: survey and interview data on the spiritual use of cannabis. Participants recruited from seven online communities, median age 33, 81% male 2020 Mixed methods (qualitative interviews and quantitative survey) n = 319
Clarifying and measuring the characteristics of experiences that involve a loss of self or a dissolution of its boundaries. Adults who reported an experience involving dissolution of self-boundaries or loss of... 2024 Cross-sectional survey with confirmatory factor analysis and qualitative thematic analysis n = 386
The developmental impact of not integrating childhood peak experiences Adults recalling their childhood peak experiences 2007 Qualitative study n = 12
Students' Peak Experiences: A Written Exercise Undergraduate psychology students enrolled in a course 1985 Qualitative study

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