Transpersonal Self‐Expansiveness as a Scientific Construct

Everyday Heroism in Practicing Psychology

“…Last, I want to share how the “larger picture” related to heroism can be understood through transpersonal psychology, and for me, this is through the construct of self-expansiveness (Friedman, 1983, 2015/2013) in which boundaries between self and other, and even self and the world (including the cosmos as a whole), can be seen as permeable. Viewing others as an alternate manifestation of oneself can promote heroism, as one’s individual life is not viewed as separate from what might need heroic protecting through an expanded identification with broader Self-interests (the capitalized “S” in “Self” refers to the potential of embracing a transpersonal sense of union with all that exists, perhaps even beyond time and space).…”

“…This too was a moment of truth for me, and I fought hard to maintain my integrity in studying psychology on my own terms. And less ironically than my coming round lately to have my career go to the dogs, I made a solid long-term commitment to transpersonal psychology that has paid off well, such as by co-editing one of its major integrating books (Friedman, 2015/2013), serving as senior editor of its most popular journal (the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies ), and having developed the construct of self-expansiveness, which founded one of its most solid scientific approaches (Friedman, 1983, 2015/2013). Again, the point is not that I was some special hero for this decision to study what I thought was most important, but to illustrate that whatever anyone chooses to study in becoming a psychologist, there are opportunities that may involve significant risks to one’s career and livelihood.…”

The Self: A Transpersonal Neuroanthropological Account

“…O ne of the most important attributes of selfreflection is that its operations may, under the requisite conditions, change one's self-construal, and thus potentially change the organization of the self. This process is what Harris L. Friedman (2013;Pappas & Friedman, 2012) has called self-expansiveness, the transformation of the self-concept as a direct consequence of transpersonal experiences and explorations. This is a very useful concept for anthropology, as well as psychology, for it points to an attribute of spiritual development common in polyphasic cultures in which…”

Transliminality and transpersonal self-expansiveness predict paranormal belief.

“…To date there have been approximately 20 studies using the SELF, making it one of the most widely used measures in transpersonal research (see Friedman, 2013, 2018).…”