An integral perspective is the most “scientific” approach. Given the multi-dimensional character of transpersonal experiences and behaviors, the physical nature of perception, the context-dependent nature of meaning, and the fact that there are many possible ways to describe and explain transpersonal action and events, multiple approaches that focus on different aspects of the phenomena would seem to be the most “scientific” thing to do.
Understand, control, and predict transpersonal phenomena. One goal of transpersonal psychology is the same goal of mainstream psychology: to understand transcendental experiences and behaviors in as many of its aspects as possible so that we may control and predict both their occurrence and growth-promoting benefits within others and ourselves in order that “the farther reaches of human nature” may be developed and the further evolution of our species be promoted. As psychologist Andrew Neher said in his book, The Psychology of Transcendence: “We need not mystify transcendental experiences in order to benefit from them” (Neher, 1990, p. 227).
The biological perspective relates exceptional human experience and behavior to biological processes (brain mechanisms, neurotransmitters, neuronal pathways, computational biocircuits, brain wave patterns, blood chemistry) occurring inside the body that can be measured by scientific instruments (EEG machines, PET and fMRI imaging scans, GSR devices, ERP and EMG recordings, MEG technology).
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“Transcendent consciousness” has biological correlates. The biological approach has made valuable contributions to our understanding of the neurophysiological correlates of exceptional human experiences and behaviors. Whereas premodern psychology had little understanding of objective brain states (i.e., the way in which consciousness is correlated with brain states, neurophysiology and neurotransmitters), we now know that methods of achieving transcendental states (e.g., drugs, alterations in breathing, fasting, fever, excitement, exertion, fatigue, and loss of sleep) involve altering basic bodily conditions and various physiological conditions that correlate with the occurrence of altered states of awareness (Ludwig, 1972). Lucid dream states have correlates in rapid eye movements. Likewise, exceptional human experiences and behaviors have physical correlates that can be measured by scientific instruments (i.e., not reducible to brain states, but not completely “transcending” them either). As someone once said: “The spirit speaks with a physical voice and the physical body is a creation of the spirit.”
Examples of transpersonal research using the biological approach. The biological perspective has assisted in expanding our understanding of the biological correlates of lucid dreaming (Gackenbach & Bosveld, 1989), the voluntary control of bodily processes (Green & Green, 1977), spontaneous remission and miracle cures (O’Regan & Hirshberg, 1993), multiple identities (Putnam, 1984), mind-body communication (Rossi, 1986), out-of-body experiences (Monroe, 1985), near-death experiences (Sabom, 1982, 1998), psi functioning (Dean, 1962, 1966; Tart, 1963; Ullman, Krippner, & Vaughn, 1973), meditation (Earle, 1981), and trance channeling (Hughes & Melville, 1990). Michael Murphy’s (1992) book, The Future of the Body: Explorations into the Further Evolution of Human Nature, provides a comprehensive survey of the psychophysiological correlates of a range of extraordinary human transformative capacities.
The biological approach to meditation. Michael Murphy and Steven Donovan’s (1997, Chapter 2) The Physical and Psychological Effects of Meditation and James Austin’s (1999) Zen and the Brain provide excellent overviews of how the biological approach has been applied to identifying the neurobiological events that accompany the act of introspection known as “meditation.”
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