A novel ego dissolution scale: A construct validation study.
Consciousness and cognition – March 01, 2023
Source: PubMed
Summary
Ego dissolution, characterized by a diminished sense of self, is linked to profound experiences such as mystical encounters and ego death. A newly developed 10-item Ego Dissolution Scale (EDS) demonstrated strong internal consistency (α = 0.80) and identified two subfactors: Ego-Loss (α = 0.84) and Unity (α = 0.75). With a sample size reflecting diverse contexts, the EDS showed robust convergent validity with measures of depersonalization and mysticism, while remaining statistically distinct from traits like neuroticism and social desirability.
Abstract
Ego dissolution (i.e., ego loss, ego disintegration, ego death, or self-loss) is a conscious state marked by a loss or diminution of one's sense of self and a lack of first-person experience. We developed a novel, valid, and internally consistent ego dissolution scale to both (a) assess trait-like aspects of ego dissolution, which have received scant attention to date, and (b) facilitate future research in a variety of contexts (e.g., personality, psychopathology, substance use/psychedelics, contemplative practices). We determined that the 10-item Ego Dissolution Scale (EDS; Cronbach's α = 0.80) and its identified subfactors of Ego-Loss (Cronbach's α = 0.84) and Unity (Cronbach's α = 0.75) were internally consistent, possessed strong convergent (e.g., depersonalization/derealization, mysticism, unusual experiences) and discriminant validity (e.g., neuroticism, social desirability). We found ego dissolution and dissociation to be empirically related yet discriminable on a statistical basis.