Factor Analysis of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire: A Study of Experiences Occasioned by the Hallucinogen Psilocybin

• Published in: Journal for the scientific study of religion Vol. 51; no. 4; pp. 721 - 737
• Main Authors: MacLean, Katherine A., Leoutsakos, Jeannie-Marie S., Johnson, Matthew W., Griffiths, Roland R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.12.2012; Wiley Subscription Services; Wiley; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Buddhism; Christianity; Contemporary period; Correlation; Discriminant analysis; entheogen; Evidence; Factor analysis; General subjects; hallucinogen; Hallucinogenic mushrooms; Hallucinogenic plants; Hallucinogens; History and sciences of religions; Ineffability; Mystical experience; Mysticism; psilocybin; psychedelic; Psychology; Questionnaires; Religion; Sacredness; Scientific research; Spiritual belief systems; spiritual experience; Spirituality; Validation studies; Inquiry; Religious psychology; Mystic

A large body of historical evidence describes the use of hallucinogenic compounds, such as psilocybin mushrooms, for religious purposes. But few scientific studies have attempted to measure or characterize hallucinogen-occasioned spiritual experiences. The present study examined the factor structure...