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An Exploratory Study of Peak Experience and Other Positive View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Texas A&M Repository AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF PEAK EXPERIENCE AND OTHER POSITIVE HUMAN EXPERIENCES AND WRITING A Dissertation by JALEH FATEMI Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY December 2004 Major Subject: Educational Psychology AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF PEAK EXPERIENCE AND OTHER POSITIVE HUMAN EXPERIENCES AND WRITING A Dissertation by JALEH FATEMI Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved as to style and content by: ________________________ _______________________ Ernest T. Goetz Valerie Balester (Chair of Committee) (Member) _________________________ _______________________ Mark Sadoski Linda Parrish (Member) (Member) ________________________ Michael Benz (Head of Department) December 2004 Major Subject: Educational Psychology iii ABSTRACT An Exploratory Study of Peak Experience and Other Positive Human Experiences and Writing. (December 2004) Jaleh Fatemi, B.A., University of Toledo; M.Ed., University of Toledo Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Ernest T. Goetz This study analyzes and reports on the characteristics of writing-triggered peak experience and other positive human experiences and explores some possible factors that can bring about such moments. Three basic questions were explored: Can writing trigger peak experience and other positive human experiences? How are writing-triggered peak experience and other positive human experiences best described? What factors influence the occurrence of writing-triggered peak experience and other positive human experiences? Participants were asked to write about their happiest moment in writing. The sample consisted of 270 students enrolled in undergraduate writing classes at a major southwestern university. Of 270 participants, 119(44%) reported having had at least one peak experience or similar positive human experience as a result of writing. Protocols reporting peak experience and other positive human experiences in writing were analyzed for content, yielding a total of 14 descriptive attributes. The participants described their writing experiences as flow of the iv words, the process of writing is its own reward, peak performance, clarity, disappearance of negative states of mind, and enhanced sense of power and personal worth. Content analysis also yielded 13 possible triggers of peak experience and other positive human experiences including self-expression, realization, free writing, use of writing for introspection, and creative and inspirational writing. In addition, personal orientation was explored as a possible trigger of peak experience and other positive human experiences using a 16-item questionnaire. Factor analysis results yielded four factors: (1) aesthetic creative expressive writing, (2) writing as a thinking and problem solving tool (3) self-discovery, and (4) not interested in writing. Factor one accounted for the highest variance (37%). The common elements in this factor were expressive writing, self-related writing and creative poetic writing with poetic and creative writing having the highest loading. v DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to the memory of my dearly departed mother who taught me the meaning of sacrifice, my dad who ignited the love of learning in my heart, and my son and best teacher who constantly inspires me to put my ideals in to actual practice. You are my ultimate inspiration. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my committee members for all of their support, guidance, and faith in me and my work. I would especially like to express my thanks to Dr. Valerie Balester for her great enthusiasm and great contribution to my work. Her inputs not only gave new life to the project but expanded my views as far as what was possible. I would like to thank Dr. Linda Parrish, the unifying force in my committee, whose attention to detail and overall guidance proved very useful in improving the overall quality of this document. I would like to thank Dr. Sadoski for his great contribution to my development as a student of science. And finally, I would like to express my deepest thanks and appreciation to my committee chair, Dr. Goetz, whose enormous patience, kind support, and constant nurturing of me and my work helped bring this work to life. I would like to thank my department and especially Ms. Carole Wagner, our academic advisor, who went beyond the call of duty to help me finish this work. Thank you Carole for all your help and support. I would also like to thank my dear friend and editor, Ms. Shomace Dadfar, for all the tireless editing and support she offered freely and lovingly. And finally, I would like to thank my dear husband, Mehrdad, and my son, Behnam, for staying the course with me and for all of their great sacrifice and love that sustained me in the years it took to bring this work into completion. I love you both and can never thank you two enough for all you have done for me. Thank you. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION ..................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................. vii LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................. x CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................1 Statement of the Problem ....................................................................... 4 Purpose of the Study ...............................................................................6 Definition of the Terms...............................................................................7 CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................10 An Overview of the Concept of Happiness .............................................10 Sources of Knowledge and the Study of Happiness .....................11 Psychology, Happiness, and the Study of Happy Moments....................15 Maslow’s Self-actualization Theory ...............................................16 Hierarchy of Needs ..............................................................17 Inner Nature .........................................................................18 Peak Experience .................................................................20 Csikszentmihalyi’s Theory of Optimal Condition and the Concept of Flow.............................................................................24 Laski’s Study of Ecstasy ...............................................................26 Privette’s Comparative Studies......................................................29 Research Background to the Study ........................................................30 Peak Experience ..........................................................................30 Summary .............................................................................45 Theories of Writing ........................................................................46 Benefits of Writing .........................................................................54 Peak Experience and Writing .................................................................... 63 Summary .............................................................................69 viii Page CHAPTER III: METHOD ....................................................................................71 Participants.............................................................................................71 Instruments and Material ........................................................................73 Demographic Survey .........................................................................................74 Experience Questionnaire ........................................................... 74 Personal Orientation Questionnaire ................................................76 Letter of Consent and Introduction..................................................77 Procedure ...............................................................................................78 CHAPTER IV: RESULTS...................................................................................79 Research Question One: Can Writing Trigger Peak Experience and Other Positive Human Experiences? .....................................................79 Research Question Two: How Are Writing-triggered Peak Experience and Other Positive Human Experiences Best Described ...................... 82 Describing Writing-triggered Peak Experience and Other Positive Human Experiences Using Protocol Length ...................................83 Describing Writing-triggered Peak Experience and Other Positive Human Experiences Using Thematic Content Analysis ..................85 Flow of the Words (Click).......................................................87 The Process of Writing Was Its Own Reward (Intrinsic Value).....................................................................................89 Peak Performance .................................................................90
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