Toward a Differentiated Conceptualization of Extreme Experiences and Their Relevance To Integrative Mental Health Theory

Bibliographic Data

ID6072006
AuthorsDominik Stefan Mihalits (0000-0003-3072-8126, Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität Wien, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume59
Issue4
Pages72-72
Publication date2025-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueIntegrative Psychological and Behavioral Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1932-4502 • E-ISSN: 1936-3567
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s12124-025-09931-6
PMID41165916
OpenAlexW4415699870
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited25

Extreme experiences lie at the edges of human existence—and precisely for that reason, they demand the attention of psychology and psychotherapy science. However, in this context, extremes are often interpreted as pathological deviations from an assumed norm. This article argues for a conceptual re-evaluation: extremes should not be understood primarily as symptomatic distortion or disorders, but as potentially meaningful states that are relevant to psychological development. Building on historical, theoretical, and empirical perspectives, an integrative framework model is proposed that analyzes extremes as multidimensional constructs: First, the dimension of intensity describes the extent of emotional, cognitive or physical arousal—from overwhelming overstimulation to emotional numbness . Second, the impact dimension reflects the extent to which an experience can lead to transformation or serve to restore and maintain psychological stability . Third, the demand dimension refers to the mental or physical effort required by a situation, ranging from states of intense exertion to those characterized by ease . Fourth, the control dimension concerns the subjective experience of gaining or losing control. Fifth, the novelty dimension describes the degree of unfamiliarity of an experience within an individual or cultural context, ranging from states of newness to those characterized by ritualism . And sixth, the identification dimension highlights the degree of personal connection to an experience, ranging from strong involvement to detached observation. The proposed model allows for a differentiated view of extreme experiences beyond binary categories such as “normal” vs. “clinically significant.” It understands extremes as a fundamental psychological phenomenon with both destructive and transformative potential. The goal is to develop a theory of extremes that is relevant for both psychological research and psychotherapeutic practice

Cognition · Cognitive dimensions of notations · Conceptualization · Dimension (graph theory · Generality · Identification (biology · Mental health · Phenomenon · Relevance (law · Transformative learning · Adventure Sports and Sensation Seeking · Outdoor and Experiential Education · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access