Clearing the Pathways to Self-Transcendence.

Self-transcendence is proposed as a way to find relief and support during COVID-19 and other times of uncertainty, but its multiple existing definitions are complex, obscure, and imprecisely spiritual, making it excluding for wider populations. This critical summary review examines historical foundations and key theoretical approaches to self-transcendence and self-transcendent experiences, aiming for clarity. The authors argue that clearer understanding can make self-transcendence an inclusive, democratized resource for supporting well-being and resilience in the context of COVID and beyond.

Study at a glance

Abstract

"Self-transcendence" is proposed as a way in which individuals might find relief and support in the context of COVID-19, as well as other times of uncertainty. However, the authors propose that the multiple definitions of self-transcendence within existing literature lean towards the complex, sometimes obscure, and imprecisely spiritual. A concern is that this creates a circumstance, where the possibility of supporting self-transcendence in a wider population will become excluding in this complexity. In this paper, we have undertaken a critical summary review focused primarily on historical foundations of the concept of self-transcendence, and key theoretical approaches in which self-transcendence and self-transcendent experiences are discussed with the motive of finding a clarity to understanding self-transcendence and the pathways towards it. We argue that this much-needed clarity in our understanding of self-transcendence may serve as an inclusive and democratized resource in which to support well-being and resilience in the context of COVID and beyond.