Self-Transcendence: Conceptualization and Measurement
The International Journal of Aging and Human Development March 1, 2005 Michael R. Levenson, Patricia A. Jennings, Carolyn M. Aldwin et al. 451 citations
Self-transcendence, a reduced reliance on external self-definition and increased interiority, spirituality, and generational connectedness, is proposed as key to wisdom and later-life adaptation. A study of 351 adults using the Adult Self-Transcendence Inventory and NEO-FFI found two factors: self-transcendence and alienation. Self-transcendence showed modest but significant relationships with lower neuroticism and higher openness, extraversion, and agreeableness, indicating it is not just a mix of positive traits. Regression analysis confirmed self-transcendence was negatively linked to neuroticism and positively linked to meditation practice, supporting the construct's distinctiveness.