Self-Expansiveness as a Psychological Construct for Understanding and Researching Religious Phenomena without Reliance on Religious Notions

Abstract

Self-concept is typically seen as individualistic or social<relational; sometimes it is viewed as biological, ecological, or temporal. These constitute differing vantages that lack conceptual integration. The construct of self-expansiveness provides a way for self-concept to be seen as expanding from a narrow individualistic identification to larger biological, ecological, social, and temporal identifications—and even to very expansive transpersonal identifications.  It is presented as an integrating framework useful for holistically understanding the self-concept in a way devoid of reliance on religious concepts, yet capable of addressing many religious concerns. In addition, empirical research on this construct is reviewed.