Describing the light: Attribution theory as an explanation of the near-death experience.
Max C. Norton, James M. Sahlman
Journal of Near-Death Studies 1995 DOI: 10.17514/jnds-1995-13-3-p167-184. (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key points | Argues that attribution theory explains how near-death experiencers describe their experiences. The observation that NDErs rarely report unknown events, characters, or objects suggests they make attributions to answer why the experience occurred. |
Abstract
Article exploring near-death experiences and attribution theory, which focuses on how information is used to create causal inferences and answer causal questions. The finding that near-death experiencers (NDErs) rarely describe unknown events, characters, or objects suggests that NDErs make attributions to answer why these experiences occurred. Examining various descriptions of NDEs demonstrates how attribution theory explains individuals' descriptions of their NDEs.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otherworld Journeys: Accounts of Near-Death Experience in Medieval and Modern Times | 1987 | Historical analysis | |
| Neuroscience and the Near-Death Experience: Roles for the NMSA-PCP receptor, the sigma receptor and the endopsychosins | 1990 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Implications of near-death experiences for a postmaterialist psychology. | 2010 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Near-Death Experience as a Probe to Explore (Disconnected) Consciousness | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Near-death experiences between science and prejudice | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 6
- The Near-Death Experience Scale The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease June 1, 1983
- Distressing Near-Death Experiences Psychiatry February 1, 1992
- The Near-death Experience The British Journal of Psychiatry November 1, 1988
- Near-death experience by proxy: A case study. Journal of Near-Death Studies 1990
- The devil in heaven: A near-death experience with both positive and negative facets Journal of Near-Death Studies September 1, 1988
and 1 more in the library