Mystical Experience in the Lab
Method & Theory in the Study of Religion September 4, 2014 Marc Malmdorf Andersen, Uffe Schjoedt, Kristoffer Laigaard Nielbo et al. 73 citations
Mystical experiences can be studied in a controlled laboratory setting. A review of previous methods highlights problems with certain approaches, leading to a new experimental paradigm. In a study using this paradigm, participants reported experiences with high authenticity based on subjective ratings, interview descriptions, and data collected three months later. The experiences had lasting effects on memory and attribution, demonstrating that at least some forms of mystical experience are amenable to controlled investigation. The findings indicate the viability of an experimental approach to mysticism, with prospects and limitations discussed.