Making sense of sudden personal transformation: a qualitative study on people’s beliefs about the facilitative factors and mechanisms of their abrupt and profound inner change.

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dc.contributor.authorIlivitsky, Susan
dc.contributor.supervisorFrance, Honore
dc.date.accessioned2011-06-21T17:48:02Z
dc.date.available2011-06-21T17:48:02Z
dc.date.copyright2011en_US
dc.date.issued2011-06-21
dc.degree.departmentDept. of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studiesen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Arts M.A.en_US
dc.description.abstractSudden 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.en_US
dc.description.scholarlevelGraduateen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/3383
dc.languageEnglisheng
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.rights.tempAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.subjectEpiphanyen_US
dc.subjectQuantum Changeen_US
dc.subjectPeak Experienceen_US
dc.subjectTransformative Changeen_US
dc.subjectExtra-therapeuticen_US
dc.subjectInsighten_US
dc.subjectPositive Changeen_US
dc.subjectTransformative Experienceen_US
dc.subjectMechanisms of Changeen_US
dc.subjectRock Bottomen_US
dc.subjectConversionen_US
dc.subjectBreaking Pointen_US
dc.subjectWilliam Jamesen_US
dc.subjectMystical Experienceen_US
dc.subjectTurning Pointen_US
dc.subjectDiscontinuous Changeen_US
dc.subjectRebirthen_US
dc.subjectBorn Againen_US
dc.subjectSpiritual Awakeningen_US
dc.subjectPost-traumatic Growthen_US
dc.subjectUnencumbered Momenten_US
dc.subjectSpiritual Emergenciesen_US
dc.subjectTransforming Momenten_US
dc.subjectConvictional Experienceen_US
dc.subjectInstantaneous Conversionen_US
dc.subjectEnlightenmenten_US
dc.subjectAlcoholics Anonymousen_US
dc.subjectSpontaneous Recoveryen_US
dc.subjectFacilitative Factorsen_US
dc.subjectPredisposing Factorsen_US
dc.subjectAntecedentsen_US
dc.subjectConversion Experienceen_US
dc.subjectCrystallization of Discontenten_US
dc.subjectSudden Gainsen_US
dc.subjectChaos Theoryen_US
dc.subjectSecond-order Changeen_US
dc.subjectType 2 Changeen_US
dc.subjectNon-treatment-relateden_US
dc.subjectNonlinear Changeen_US
dc.titleMaking sense of sudden personal transformation: a qualitative study on people’s beliefs about the facilitative factors and mechanisms of their abrupt and profound inner change.en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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