Defining Transformative Experiences: A Conceptual Analysis
Alice Chirico, Marta Pizzolante, Alexandra Kitson, Elena Gianotti, Bernhard E. Riecke, Andrea Gaggioli
Frontiers in Psychology June 24, 2022 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.790300 via OpenAlex
Summary
Transformative experience (TE) is studied across many disciplines, from philosophy to neurobiology and in domains from spirituality to education, yet no consistent definition exists. This work reviews models and theories of TE from different fields, extracts their main components, and examines redundancies and particularities across domains. It then proposes an integrated theoretical framework and a preliminary interdisciplinary operational definition of TE. This synthesis aims to organize current research and theories, offering a foundation for operationalizing TE and encouraging new interdisciplinary studies.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Operationalization Transformative learning Construct python library Psychology Epistemology |
| Citations | 58 |
| Key finding | An integrated theoretical framework and preliminary interdisciplinary operational definition of transformative experience is proposed, based on a review of models and theories across disciplines. |
Abstract
The concept of transformative experience (TE) has been widely explored by several disciplines from philosophy to neurobiology, and in different domains, from the spiritual to the educational one. This attitude has engendered heterogeneous models to explain this phenomenon. However, a consistent and clear understanding of this construct remains elusive. The aim of this work is to provide an initial comprehensive interdisciplinary, cross-domain, up-to-date, and integrated overview on the concept of TEs. Firstly, all the models and theories on TEs were reviewed to extract and analyze TEs’ main components emerging from different disciplines. Then, this preliminary analysis was integrated with an in-depth examination of redundancies and particularities across domains and disciplines, to provide an integrated theoretical framework of TEs and a preliminary interdisciplinary operational definition of TEs. This examination, in turn, can help organize current research and theories, thus providing suggestions for operationalizing TEs as well as encouraging new interdisciplinary research endeavors.