Personality models and the differentiation between healthy and pathological anomalous experiences in religious context

Abstract

Anomalous experiences in religious context, such as spiritual visions and mediumship, were/are studied by renowned authors of Psychology of Religion and Personality. Anomalous experiences are lived both by the general population and by individuals with severe mental disorders. However, we lack of theoretical and especially empirical studies on the differentiation between healthy and pathological experiences. In this article we aim to discuss the relations between personality models and anomalous experiences re-signified in religious contexts, in order to identify personality traits possibly associated with maturity and mental health. We reviewed personality theories and their contributions to religiosity/spirituality field. Among them, we describe the Psychobiological Model of Temperament and Character and the dimensions of Self-directedness and Self-Transcendence, which point to mental health in individuals who have anomalous experiences. We conclude by proposing a Psychology of Religion based on evidences and the integration of theoretical and empirical models of personality in order to improve the identification of positive mental health indicators.