People who are highly creative seem to have an increased propensity for mystical experience, on the one hand, and psychological suffering, on the other. Michael A. Thalbourne and colleaguesâ concept of âtransliminalityââthe hypothesized tendency of psychological material to cross thresholds into and out of consciousnessâhelps corroborate and explain this observation. In this dissertation I propose a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual model for understanding the types of phenomena that people with large amounts of transliminality often encounter and for informing a holistic, empathic, effective clinical and pastoral response.
First, I review evidence that transliminality is a valid construct, and I offer a model for how high amounts of this trait interact with contextual factors to result in individuals with a wider-than-usual range of flourishing versus decompensation. Next, using the 16th-century mystic St. Teresa of Ãvila, 20th-century depth psychologist C. G. Jung, and contemporary musician Alanis Morissette as case studies, I examine how each embodies creativity, transcendent experience, and possible psychopathology; demonstrates a high degree of transliminality; and finds ways to move through psychospiritual suffering into ultimate flourishing and generativity. I then explore the psychological and theological ramifications of transliminal, transcendent moments by correlating the writings of practical theologian James E. Loder and cognitive psychologist Harry T. Hunt on the nature and potential purpose of these experiences (and, by implication, the type of personality that increases oneâs tendency to have them). Finally, after integrating âtransliminality theoryâ with insights from Loder, Hunt, Teresa, Jung, and Morissette, I translate this research into practical recommendations for how pastoral caregivers and psychotherapists can help highly transliminal people ameliorate suffering and actualize their considerable gifts.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-03232016-212253 |
| Date | 04 April 2016 |
| Creators | Kreiselmaier, Laura Rosser |
| Contributors | Prof. Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, Prof. Sohee Park, Prof. John S. McClure, Prof. Volney P. Gay |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-03232016-212253/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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