Consciousness and emotions as interpersonal and transpersonal systems
Author
Editor
- Charles Whitehead
Summary, in English
Abstract in Undetermined
Emotions and consciousness are intimately linked and often conceived from a purely intrapersonal perspective. This paper explores the implications of considering emotions as not only intrapersonal but also as interpersonal and transpersonal heterarchical (i.e., every component has potentially equal importance) systems. It is telling that in contemplative traditions and contemporary research on hypnotic experience, deep “inner” experience is pregnant with interpersonal and transpersonal meanings of interconnectedness. Similarly, the propensity to have porous conscious experiences is paralleled by the tendency to be affected by the emotion of others. Anecdotal and experimental evidence on anomalous events clearly suggests that strong emotions can have non-local effects. That consciousness and emotions are embedded within interpersonal and transpersonal fields has important epistemological and ethical implications.
Emotions and consciousness are intimately linked and often conceived from a purely intrapersonal perspective. This paper explores the implications of considering emotions as not only intrapersonal but also as interpersonal and transpersonal heterarchical (i.e., every component has potentially equal importance) systems. It is telling that in contemplative traditions and contemporary research on hypnotic experience, deep “inner” experience is pregnant with interpersonal and transpersonal meanings of interconnectedness. Similarly, the propensity to have porous conscious experiences is paralleled by the tendency to be affected by the emotion of others. Anecdotal and experimental evidence on anomalous events clearly suggests that strong emotions can have non-local effects. That consciousness and emotions are embedded within interpersonal and transpersonal fields has important epistemological and ethical implications.
Department/s
Publishing year
2008
Language
English
Pages
249-263
Publication/Series
The origin of consciousness in the social world
Document type
Book chapter
Publisher
Imprint Academic
Topic
- Psychology
Keywords
- consciousness
- emotion
- altered states of consciousness
- parapsychology
Status
Published
Research group
- CERCAP (Center for Research on Consciousness and Anomalous Psychology)