PMID: 6990799Jun 1, 1980Paper

The consciousness disciplines and the behavioral sciences: questions of comparison and assessment

The American Journal of Psychiatry
Roger Walsh

Abstract

In recent years a number of assessments of the non-Western consciousness disciplines have been undertaken by Western behavioral scientists. The author suggests that a variety of conceptual, methodological, experimential, and content inadequacies render the conclusions of these investigations of doubtful validity. He then describes the models of human nature postulated by these disciplines and the Western behavioral sciences, suggesting that comparing them results in a paradigm clash. The failure to recognize this clash seems to have resulted in inappropriate pathologizing interpretations. Attention is drawn to the relevance of recent findings in state-dependent learning, meditation studies, peak and transcendental experiences, transpersonal psychology, and quantum physics to an assessment of the consciousness disciplines, and suggestions for more adequate investigation are provided.

Citations

Sep 1, 1983·Biofeedback and Self-regulation·D H Shapiro
Mar 16, 2006·Psychological Bulletin·B Rael Cahn, John Polich
Jan 1, 1989·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs·G Bravo, C Grob
Jun 1, 1985·Journal of Behavioral Medicine·J Kabat-ZinnR Burney
Jun 11, 1992·Perceptual and Motor Skills·D FaskoH Kornfeld
Apr 8, 1994·American Journal of Health Promotion : AJHP·L L Fahlberg, J Wolfer
Nov 1, 1983·Journal of Clinical Psychology·D H Shapiro, J Shapiro
Dec 1, 1981·Perceptual and Motor Skills·G R HolmesA G Donald
Oct 1, 1989·Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie·J L Craven

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