Peak experience

A peak experience is an altered state of consciousness characterized by euphoria, often achieved by self-actualizing individuals.[citation needed] The concept was originally developed by Abraham Maslow in 1964,[citation needed] who described peak experiences 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."[1] : 627 [2] 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.[3] Peak experiences can range from simple activities to intense events;[4] however, it is not necessarily about what the activity is, but the ecstatic, blissful feeling that is being experienced during it.[5]

  1. ^ Corsini, Raymond J. (1998). Encyclopedia of Psychology. United States: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780471192824.
  2. ^ Maslow, A.H. (1964). Religions, values, and peak experiences. London: Penguin Books Limited.
  3. ^ Maslow, Abraham (1968). Toward a Psychology of Being. New York, NY: Van Nostrand-Reinhold.
  4. ^ Polyson, J. (1985). "Student's peak experiences: A written exercise". Teaching of Psychology. Vol. 12. pp. 211–213.
  5. ^ Maslow, A. H. (1962). Toward a psychology of being. Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand-Reinhold.