Personality traits and pattern of beliefs of near-death(-like) experiencers
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – April 28, 2023
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A compelling finding in psychology reveals that specific personality traits predict near-death experiences (NDEs). Among 181 participants, including 63 NDE experiencers, Openness to experience and Fantasy proneness were linked to NDE recall. Spiritual beliefs, often explored in social psychology, predicted near-death-like experiences. While Big Five personality traits like Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, and Extraversion/introversion were assessed, Openness emerged as a key factor. These insights, relevant to clinical psychology, help classify such phenomena with 35% accuracy, shedding light on the psychological underpinnings of paranormal experiences and beliefs.
Abstract
Introduction Little is known about the potential personality and psychological predictors of near-death experiences (NDEs), and fewer yet those of near-death-like experiences (NDEs-like; similar phenomenology reported after a non-life-threatening context). This study investigated whether personality traits (Openness, Extraversion, Pleasantness, Conscientiousness, and Neuroticism), dissociative experiences, Fantasy proneness, disposition toward auditory hallucinations, absorption trait, and endorsement of paranormal and spiritual beliefs could be associated with the recall of NDEs(-like). Methods To this aim, we invited four groups of people to retrospectively fill in questionnaires assessing the following factors: NDE experiencers ( n = 63), NDE(-like) experiencers ( n = 31), controls with a life-threatening situation but no NDE(-like) ( n = 43), and controls without a life-threatening situation or an NDE(-like) ( n = 44). We carried out univariate analyses for each factor and then performed a multiple regression analysis and a discriminant analysis. Results The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the endorsement of spiritual beliefs was associated with the recall of NDEs-like while Openness and Fantasy proneness were associated with the recall of NDEs. The discriminant analysis showed that these variables produce 35% of correct classification. Discussion Albeit retrospective, these results pave the way for future research on psychological predictors of NDEs(-like) by highlighting the influence of Spirituality, Openness, and Fantasy proneness on these phenomena.