Self-transcendence as a Measurable Transpersonal Construct

The term self-transcendence has been used to refer both to a process of movement beyond one’s immediate self-boundaries, and to a quality which emerges as a result of this process, culminating in a broadened worldview. Self-transcendence has appeared as a key theme in several disciplines including transpersonal psychology, personality theory, and nursing theory. The scarcity of widely accepted methods of quantifying this construct with valid, reliable measures has caused some difficulty in the research arena. Scientific literature to date is presented here surrounding selftranscendence as quantified by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The author’s purpose is to expound a coherent account of TCI self-transcendence research, and to establish selftranscendence as a measurable transpersonal construct with observable features and correlates. Data regarding molecular and quantitative genetics, neuroanatomy, aging, spirituality, religion, culture, and psychopathology are discussed. In light of this evidence, self-transcendence is presented as a complex but quantifiable construct of the utmost relevance to psychology.