Development and validation of the higher consciousness scale (HC-18): A new and integrated measure of transcendent experiences
September 11, 2025 Miguel D. Molina, L. T. Molina, Mauro W. Zappaterra preprint
Transcendent experiences such as mystical, near-death, and Kundalini events share overlapping phenomenology and aftereffects, yet existing theories and scales do not explain this overlap. A global online survey of 630 participants psychometrically tested a framework proposing a common mechanism, including a peak experience called higher consciousness. Factor analysis showed that a broad range of transcendent experiences loaded strongly onto a single latent construct. A new scale measuring higher consciousness demonstrated good consistency and validity, with factors including unity-consciousness, bliss, insight, somatic energy sensations, and luminosity. A predictive model accurately classified high-intensity experiencers, and selflessness was a key predictor. The findings suggest that diverse transcendent experiences may share a common underlying mechanism, with higher consciousness primarily identified by unity-consciousness.