Research Article

Exceptional experiences and spiritual practice: a new measurement approach

  1. Niko Kohls*,
  2. Harald Walach*

Article first published online: 13 SEP 2006

DOI: 10.1002/shi.296

Issue

Spirituality and Health International

Spirituality and Health International

Volume 7, Issue 3, pages 125–150, September 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kohls, N. and Walach, H. (2006), Exceptional experiences and spiritual practice: a new measurement approach. Spirituality Health, 7: 125–150. doi: 10.1002/shi.296

Author Information

*University of Northampton, School of Social Sciences & Samueli Institute for Information Biology, Boughton Green Rd, Northampton NN2 7AL, UK

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 13 SEP 2006
  2. Article first published online: 13 SEP 2006

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Keywords:

  • exceptional experiences;
  • transpersonal psychology;
  • spirituality;
  • dissociation;
  • assessment;
  • questionnaire

Abstract

A new instrument for the measurement of exceptional experiences, the Exceptional Experiences Questionnaire (EEQ), is introduced, which considers both frequency and individual evaluation of exceptional experiences. A principal component factor analysis extracted four factors (positive spiritual experiences, experiences of deconstruction/ego loss, psychopathological experiences and dream-type experiences), which explain 49% of the variance. The 25-item short form of the instrument shows good psychometric properties (range for Cronbach's alpha: r = 0.67–0.89, range for test–retest reliability after 6 months r = 0.66–0.87). The instrument shows adequate discriminant and convergent validity (Sense of Coherence, Social Support, Mental Distress and Transpersonal Trust) and can discriminate between spiritual practising and non practising individuals. A non-technical summary of the research is provided at the end of this paper. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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