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Dimensions of Peak Communication Experiences: An Exploratory Study

Ronald Gordon

Psychological Reports December 1, 1985 DOI: 10.2466/pr0.1985.57.3.824 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Survey study using principal components analysis Peer reviewed
Sample size 74
Population 74 subjects reporting on their peak communication experiences
Measures brief inventory of characteristics of "peak communication experiences"
Topics Mystical experience
Citations 15
Key findings Six factors emerged from the peak communication experience inventory, together accounting for 66.1% of the variance, with Loving Acceptance the largest. Women rated their peak communication experiences higher than men on Loving Acceptance and Spontaneity.

Abstract

A brief inventory of characteristics of “peak communication experiences” was developed from Maslow's model of the generalized peak experience. Data from 74 subjects were submitted to principal components analysis with varimax rotation, yielding six factors which accounted for 66.1% of the total variance, as follows: Loving Acceptance (25.9%), Openminded Insight (10.2%), Spontaneity (9.2%), Pleasant Fear (80%), Absorption (7.0%), and Self-detachment (5 8%). Analyses of variance showed that women rated their peak communication experiences higher than men on Loving Acceptance and Spontaneity.