In a recent study published in the journal Mindfulness , researchers examine the prevalence and effects of emergent phenomena (EP), their forms, the balance of positive and negative repercussions, and assistance in finding sites. Study: Altered States of Consciousness is Prevalent and Insufficiently Supported Clinically: A Population Survey . Image Credit: brizmaker / Shutterstock.
com EPs are spontaneous and unique mental or physical experiences commonly perceived as mystical, spiritual, magical, or energetic. They are frequently associated with contemplative practices such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness-based therapies, which promote well-being, productivity, work performance, and pro-social conduct. Furthermore, EP can cause cognitive and behavioral changes such as reduced dread of death, decreased interest in dogma, rejection of materialistic lifestyles, improved mood, and profound tranquility.
In the present exploratory study, researchers created a survey instrument based on quantitative self-report questions to examine the frequency and impact of EP in general populations. This instrument aimed to elicit a memory of direct experiences while avoiding abstract terms and using ontologically neutral words that might accept spiritual, contemplative, existential, and religious viewpoints. It underwent many pre-testing rounds, including reviews by the authoring team, postgraduate students, 30 MTurk staff, and technical pre-evaluations on Qualtrics and MTurk platforms.
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