William James-TDA

William James-TDA

1. 1) Passivity- the person having the mystical experience feels a sense of 'losing control' to a greater power. Often people assume completely different personalities, begin writing or drawing prophetic visions or language to usual. Many have conclude that the experience is out of the persons control, therefore out of all human control and in Gods control.

2. 2) Ineffability- Most easily identified characteristic of a mystical experience- the vast majority of mystical experiences are indescribable. There's an awareness that there's something to be described but there is no way of doing so.

3. 3) Noetic Quality- Although mystical experiences are described as ineffable those who have them often say that something can be gained from them, Knowledge that's gained through intuition and perception.

4. 4) Transciency- Most religious experiences lasted between a few mins to 2 hours. James found that the significance of the event and the effect of the event were far more enduring than the experience itself. Memory is clear and impacts directly on the life of the one who experienced it.