Transpersonal Psychology and the Paranormal

This paper considers two main questions: (1) What is the relationship between paranormal experience and transpersonal experience? (2) What is the relationship between transpersonal psychology and parapsychology? I look at examples of experiences that may be considered both paranormal and transpersonal and at how these two realms of experience have been associated throughout history and across cultures. I question whether distinctions need to be made between the paranormal and the transpersonal and examine potential pitfalls in various approaches that have been taken. In this context I look critically at Green & Green’s (1986) and Rowan’s (1993) distinction between transpersonal and extrapersonal experience, before examining other ways in which the relationship between the transpersonal and extrapersonal has been understood. In particular I consider the relevance of Wilber’s (e.g., 1996a) notion of the pre-trans fallacy and of his spectrum of consciousness model (e.g., Wilber, 1996b). I suggest an approach that attempts to distinguish transpersonal and extrapersonal experience in terms of the transformational meaning and effect that these experiences have on the person or society. This allows a psychological understanding of the various warnings that are often given about the dangers of dabbling with the paranormal and occult. Finally, I discuss the differences between parapsychology and transpersonal psychology in terms of the contrasting perspectives and research paradigms that these disciplines take on paranormal experience. These approaches are considered in terms of Wilber’s quadrant model (e.g., Wilber, 1997) in an attempt to understand how they provide alternative views that are complementary rather than opposed. Transpersonal Psychology Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 17-31. (1998) [Preprint Version]