Exceptional Experiences (ExE) and bonding styles: Autonomy and bonding as basic human needs and as structural determinants of ExE

Abstract

Autonomy and bonding can be considered as basic human needs and, in systems theory, as fundamental complementary conditions of the existence of all biological systems. Exceptional experiences (ExE) seem to indicate serious conflicts between human strivings for autonomy and bonding. Statistical and qualitative analyses of more than 2300 counselling cases with clients who reported ExE show that phenomenologically specific ExE-patterns are significantly associated with different characteristics of social bonding and partnership. Drawing on basic assumptions of attachment theory, systematic relations between ExE-patterns and bonding styles were identified. A conceptual framework developed on the basis of the phenomenological and empirical findings provides a new and helpful paradigm for counselling and therapeutic treatment of individuals exposed to distressing ExE. Implications are illustrated with case studies.