The Varieties of Self-Transcendent Experience

TLDR

Self‑loss has been linked to mental illness, raising the question of its broader relevance to mental health. The review aims to synthesize and organize self‑transcendent experiences, defined as transient states of reduced self‑salience and heightened connectedness. The authors map psychological constructs such as mindfulness, flow, and mystical experiences to underlying psychological and neurobiological mechanisms that may mediate the effects of STEs.

Abstract

Various forms of self-loss have been described as aspects of mental illness (e.g., depersonalization disorder), but might self-loss also be related to mental health? In this integrative review and proposed organizational framework, we focus on self-transcendent experiences (STEs)—transient mental states marked by decreased self-salience and increased feelings of connectedness. We first identify common psychological constructs that contain a self-transcendent aspect, including mindfulness, flow, peak experiences, mystical-type experiences, and certain positive emotions (e.g., love, awe). We then propose psychological and neurobiological mechanisms that may mediate the effects of STEs based on a review of the extant literature from social psychology, clinical psychology, and affective neuroscience. We conclude with future directions for further empirical research on these experiences.