Extraordinary Experiences and Beliefs: Worldview, Identity and Wellbeing

This Research Topic examines the prevalence, interpretation, and psychological correlates of reported extraordinary experiences and related beliefs—including experiences variously described as spiritual, mystical, or psi-related—across individuals and cultural contexts. Drawing on psychological and social-cognitive research, it investigates how people make meaning of these experiences and how associated belief frameworks—such as paranormal beliefs, conspiracy beliefs, and other non-mainstream explanatory models—relate to self-concept, worldview formation, and existential well-being.Recent studies highlight complex interactions between these experiences and belief systems and the mediating role of constructs such as creativity and self-esteem. However, the nuanced mechanisms connecting them to outcomes like the core features of a person's worldview and their overall wellbeing remain elusive. There is ongoing debate about the adaptive and maladaptive roles such beliefs might play, as well as uncertainty concerning how best to communicate about anomalous experiences in ways that are both scientifically accurate and respectful of individual perspectives.Initial research suggests that factors like creativity may mediate the relationship between paranormal belief systems and a person’s sense of existential purpose, but empirical findings are still emerging. Quantitative analyses, including structural equation modelling, provide insights into causal pathways, while qualitative accounts reveal the deeply personal ways individuals interpret and integrate their anomalous experiences into their worldview. Major gaps persist in our understanding of how first-person narratives shape self-concept and worldview, and how public educational materials might either reinforce stereotypes or foster genuine understanding that supports wellbeing.This Research Topic aims to investigate the complex pathways connecting extraordinary experience, beliefs (including paranormal, noetic, and conspiratorial ideas), creative cognition, and the construction of worldview and wellbeing. The objective is to clarify the mediating roles of creativity and self-esteem, deepen qualitative insight into first-person narratives of phenomena such as OBEs, and assess the effectiveness of science communication tools designed for public engagement. By integrating empirical, theoretical, and applied approaches across diverse disciplines, we seek to generate evidence-based strategies for addressing stigma, misinformation, and the diversity of lived experiences associated with extraordinary beliefs.To gather further insights into the psychological, parapsychological, noetic, and educational boundaries of anomalous and extraordinary experiences, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Cognitive and affective processes mediating the link between paranormal beliefs and existential wellbeing.• Narrative accounts of anomalous experiences challenging or supporting theoretical models of consciousness and shaping worldview.• Evidence-based strategies for developing public-facing materials that integrates scientific, experiential, and cultural insights, aimed at supporting experiencer wellbeing.• Quantitative studies using methods such as multivariate statistical modelling to explore causal pathways related to belief, worldview, and wellbeing.• Qualitative research through interviews and thematic analysis of anomalous experiences (e.g., OBEs and apparitional experiences) and their impact on self-concept and worldview.• Evidence-informed, compassionate clinical support for experiencers: best practices for validating lived experience without endorsing specific truth claims; assessing risk and differential diagnosis; integrating culturally sensitive, trauma- and grief-informed approaches to enhance wellbeing; and developing practitioner training that honours meaning-making.We invite, internationally, qualitative and quantitative studies, theoretical papers, and innovative methodological approaches aimed at enhancing understanding of consciousness, anomalous experiences, and their ultimate impact on the formation of worldview and wellbeing. Topic editors: Ciarán O'Keeffe, Chris Roe, Neil Dagnall Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75886/extraordinary-experiences-and-beliefs-worldview-identity-and-wellbeing