Sudden personal transformation (SPT) was defined as a subjectively reported,
positive, profound, and lasting personal change that follows a relatively brief and
memorable inner experience. Although such change has been described in numerous
biographies, works of fiction, and religious and scholarly texts, a consistent definition
and systematic program of research is lacking in the psychological literature. Moreover,
almost nothing is known about what causes such change from the subjective point of
view of individuals who have experienced it first hand. This study used semi-structured
interviews and thematic analysis to explore the common beliefs of three participants
about the factors that facilitated and the mechanisms that caused their SPT. Findings
reveal that all participants reported a life transition, feeling miserable, feeling exhausted,
feeling unable to resolve adverse circumstances, reaching a breaking point, and support
from others facilitated their individual SPT’s. All participants also indicated that a
formalized activity or ceremony as well as a process outside of their conscious control
(either a higher power or a deep inner wisdom) produced or caused their SPT’s.
Implications for future research and counselling practice are discussed. / Graduate
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uvic.ca/oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/3383 |
| Date | 21 June 2011 |
| Creators | Ilivitsky, Susan |
| Contributors | France, Honore |
| Source Sets | University of Victoria |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Available to the World Wide Web |
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