Published Article Full-text Now Available At:
https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts-transpersonalstudies/vol38/iss1/7/
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Summer 2019
Abstract
Falling in love may begin with an inescapable, uncontrollable, transformative experience of intense emotions and intrusive thoughts, such as limerence. Romantic love researchers have tended to lump extreme love into pathology. Transpersonal psychology was chosen as the lens to examine an extreme occurrence of falling in love for its transformational and spiritual potential using a phenomenological approach. Twenty-five U.S. born participants, age 30 or older, reported experiencing a highly intense and deeply significant romantic love occurrence. Results revealed a unique experience with limited correlations to limerence. The new phenomenon is called amigeist, characterized by immediate, intense soul-mate bonding, such as secure attachment, with lifepartner potential. The larger themes were dynamic connection, secure attachment, astonishment, and passionate long-term relationships.
Recommended Citation
Sundberg, J. (Advance publication). Amigeist: A new extreme love phenomenon. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies.