The Relationship between Transliminality and Boundary Structure Subscales

Abstract

An opportunity sample of 98, mostly undergraduate [1], participants completed Thalbourne's Transliminality Scale (Form B) [2–3] plus three subscales from Hartmann's Boundary Structure Questionnaire [4] (sleep/wake/dream, unusual experiences, thoughts/feelings/moods) plus a psychic experiences scale which included some of Hartmann's items. The results support the hypothesis, and Houran et al.'s [5] findings, that there is a significant positive correlation between selected boundary structure subscales and a measure of transliminality (range r = .384–.615). Our results are similar to Houran et al.'s in that only certain subscales were significant predictors of transliminality when the effects of others are taken into account. In this study only the psychic experiences scale, which is not one of Hartmann's original subscales [4, 6], was a significant predictor when the effects of the three other subscales were accounted for. The theories behind the concepts of boundary structure and transliminality suggest that individuals differ according to the extent to which different areas of the brain/mind are separated.

A Comparative Study of Exceptional Experiences of Clients Seeking Advice and of Subjects in an Ordinary Population

“…Individuals reporting EE and altered states of consciousness also show tendencies toward schizotypy (Pizzagalli et al, 2001), dissociation (Richards, 1991), transliminality (Sherwood and Milner, 2004–2005), hypersensibility (Thalbourne, 2000; Jawer, 2006), and “thin-boundariedness” (Hartmann, 1991). However, it is unknown what type of precise relationship a particular EE may have with particular beliefs and personality traits.…”

Autonomous sensory meridian response: Individual differences and consciousness correlates.

“…As participants were recruited from two populations, a number of planned comparisons were conducted to assess sample differences. A significant difference in ASMR scores was observed across website of recruitment, t( 382 In examining the demographic differences of each sample, it was found that Facebook (Rawlings, 2002), RTS (Sherwood & Milner, 2004), PBCS (Miller, Murphy, & Buss, 1981). This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.…”

“…Sharing significant features with Hartmann's (1991) concept of mental boundaries, high levels of transliminality may represent a form of thin boundary between levels of consciousness (Sherwood & Milner, 2004) and the external environment (Thalbourne & Maltby, 2008). Comprising the words "trans" (cross) and "limen" (threshold; Sherwood & Milner, 2004), transliminality has been defined as the hypersensitivity toward (Thalbourne & Maltby, 2008), and tendency for psychological material to transcend the threshold of conscious awareness (Lange, Thalbourne, Houran, & Storm, 2000).…”

“…Comprising the words "trans" (cross) and "limen" (threshold; Sherwood & Milner, 2004), transliminality has been defined as the hypersensitivity toward (Thalbourne & Maltby, 2008), and tendency for psychological material to transcend the threshold of conscious awareness (Lange, Thalbourne, Houran, & Storm, 2000). In this instance, "threshold" refers to a doorway or gateway (Sherwood & Milner, 2004), as opposed to a level of stimulation, such that transliminality represents an "ungatedness" (Thalbourne & Maltby, 2008, p. 1618 or lack This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.…”

“…For example, individuals with thinner boundaries frequently tend toward fantasy, such that reality and fantasy may merge (Hartmann, Harrison, & Zborowski, 2001). Additionally, thin boundaries have been associated with deep immersion in daydreams and difficulties discerning thoughts from feelings (Rawlings, 2002; Sherwood & Milner, 2004). By contrast, individuals with thicker, or less permeable boundaries tend to focus on one thing at a time and have a more stable sense of self, in relation to their environment (Sherwood & Milner, 2004).…”