The Self-Transcendence Experience Scale: Extracting Core Constructs

Self-transcendence has been used both to a process of movement beyond one's immediate self-boundaries and to a quality that emerges as a result of this process, culminating in a broadened worldview. Due to the elusive character of the construct, there is difficulty in defining and measuring it. The present study attempts to introduce exploratory findings using an Israeli convenience sample (n = 366) in an effort to identify common core constructs in widely used measures of self-transcendence and make a preliminary unified cross-disciplinary self-transcendence assessment tool. Exploratory principal component analysis of the Self-Transcendence Scale, the Adult Self-Transcendence Inventory, the Temperament and Character Inventory Self-Transcendence subscale, the Spiritual Transcendence Scale, and the Mysticism Scale was completed. A three-factor structure was revealed: Transpersonal Awareness, Broadening of Experience, and Centeredness. Correlations between the three factors revealed a possible new, integrated conceptualization of self-transcendence as a three-dimensional construct. Further theoretical analysis is required.