Peak experience


A peak experience is an altered state of consciousness characterized by euphoria, often achieved by self-actualizing individuals. The concept was originally developed by psychologist Abraham Maslow in mid-1940s and term was coined by him in 1956. According to T. Landsman, "Maslow described them as rare, exciting, oceanic, deeply moving, exhilarating, elevating experiences that generate an advanced form of perceiving reality, and are even mystic and magical in their effect upon the experimenter." There are several unique characteristics of a peak experience, but each element is perceived together in a holistic manner that creates the moment of reaching one's full potential. Peak experiences can range from simple activities to intense events; however, it is not necessarily about what the activity is, but the ecstatic, blissful feeling that is being experienced during it.

History

Peak experiences were originally presented by Abraham Maslow in September, 1956 at annual American Psychological Association convention and published in his first and principal paper on the subject, which were later reprinted in the book.
By choosing term Maslow attempted to denominate those experiences which have generally been identified as religious experiences and whose origins have, by implication, been thought of as supernatural. He emphasized importance of this even before the exact term was introduced:
In book Religions, Values, and Peak Experiences Maslow demonstrated that every "known high religion" is necessary associated with peak experiences:
Maslow's assertions about peak experience, along with his famous hierarchy of needs, were widely celebrated due to the theories' focus on the psychology of healthy people, which stood out in a time where the bulk of psychology research focused on psychological disorders.
In original peak experience research, Maslow utilized interviews and questionnaires to gather participants' testimonies of peak experience. These early studies suggested common triggers for peak experience including art, nature, sex, creative work, music, scientific knowledge, and introspection.

Characteristics

According to Maslow, often-reported emotions in a peak experience include "wonder, awe, reverence, humility, surrender, and even worship before the greatness of the experience", and reality is perceived with truth, goodness, beauty, wholeness, aliveness, uniqueness, perfection, completion, justice, simplicity, richness, effortlessness, playfulness, and self-sufficiency.
An individual in a peak experience will perceive the following simultaneously:
  • loss of judgment to time and space
  • the feeling of being one whole and harmonious self, free of dissociation or inner conflict
  • the feeling of using all capacities and capabilities at their highest potential, or being "fully functioning"
  • functioning effortlessly and easily without strain or struggle
  • feeling completely responsible for perceptions and behavior. Use of self-determination to becoming stronger, more single-minded, and fully volitional
  • being without inhibition, fear, doubt, and self-criticism
  • spontaneity, expressiveness, and naturally flowing behavior that is not constrained by conformity
  • a free mind that is flexible and open to creative thoughts and ideas
  • complete mindfulness of the present moment without influence of past or expected future experiences

    Peak experience and self-actualization

is a concept developed by Abraham Maslow that is "to develop one’s potential, to become the person one was meant to be". During research on self-actualized people Maslow found that many subjects reported a similar unusual set of feelings, which prompted him to investigate peak experiences. After listing all 19 "characteristics of the cognition found in the generalized peak-experience" in his 1959 paper Maslow resumes interrelation between peak experience and self-actualizion:

Peak experience and flow

A common phenomenon to the peak experience called flow, was proposed by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in the 1975 book Beyond Boredom and Anxiety, partially based on Maslow's findings:
Flow has been described as a state of mind when one is completely immersed in their current activity:
Flow processes and peak experiences share several key characteristics, but there are also some essential differences: e.g., while peak experience denotes a high level of stimulation or euphoria, flow is not associated with an increased level of stimulation.

Examples

Specific examples of when peak experiences often occur:
considered the peak experience to be one of the most important goals of life, as it is an indication of self-actualization. This moment of feeling wholly and completely the true self makes the peak experience an essential component of identity. The aftereffects of the peak experience leave the individual to see himself and the world in a new way. He views himself more positively, he views life as worthwhile and meaningful, and most importantly, he seeks to repeat the experience.

Plateau experience

Maslow also recognized a related but distinct phenomenon of plateau experience. He wrote:
After Maslow's death, investigation into the nature of plateau experience per se "largely fizzled into obscurity." However, research into the related phenomena of self-transcendence and is potentially increasing.