Wolfgang Fach
Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health (IGPP), Freiburg, Germany
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Introduction: When the Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health (IGPP) began to professionalize its counseling and intensify its research in the field of “Exceptional Experiences” (ExE) in the 1990s, it adopted the term from Rhea White. In this contribution, it is argued that a continuum of ExE can be established in manifestations of autonomy and bonding as complementary aspects of an underlying holism.
Conceptual and Empirical Background: Based on key postulates of Metzinger’s theory of mental representations, Fach developed a phenomenological classification of ExE. According to the dual structure of an overall phenomenal reality-model with a self-model and a world-model as fundamental subcomponents, ExE can be traced back to two pairs of basic phenomenon classes: external phenomena in the world-model (e.g., poltergeist phenomena) or internal phenomena in the self-model (e.g., ego-dystonic feelings); and coincidence phenomena (e.g., extrasensory perceptions) or dissociation phenomena (e.g., out-of-body experiences). Using different samples from different countries, factor analyses result in a general ExE factor and the four phenomenon classes as subfactors as the most robust model.
Dual-Aspect Monism: If all ExE-patterns have their origin in a general factor that is completely abstract, and if self and world are understood as models, the question arises as to what they are representations of. A dual-aspect monism approach developed by Pauli and Jung, inspired by quantum physics, sees the mental and the material arising through a splitting of the psychophysically neutral reality (unus mundus). Connections between self and world are arranged by structural and psychophysically neutral determinants (archetypes). This means that psychological defense mechanisms such as repression can induce exceptional phenomena in the outside world via the unconscious or the underlying holism.
Autonomy and Bonding: Analyses based on over 2300 IGPP counseling cases confirm the model of phenomenon basic classes. The six ExE-patterns form two complementary continua of anomalous representations of autonomy and bonding. Statistical analyses show significant correlations between social bonding and ExE-patterns. Biographical case analyses point to systematic correlations with insecure bonding styles. Autonomy and bonding can be understood as structural determinants anchored in unus mundus acting as organizing principles.
Conclusion: The research findings support the thesis that autonomy and bonding play a central role in ExE, both as basic human needs and as structural determinants. The observation that avoided autonomy is expressed in the world-model and blocked bonding in the self-model points to an organizing principle oriented towards balance and integration. This new paradigm not only deepens the understanding of ExE but offers a new approach to improving counseling and therapy for those affected.
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Wolfgang Fach is a researcher at the Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health (IGPP) in Freiburg, Germany, specializing in exceptional experiences, phenomenological classification, dual-aspect monism, and clinical parapsychology.
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The Parapsychological Association is an international professional organization of scientists and scholars engaged in the study of psi (or ‘psychic’) experiences, such as telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, psychic healing, and precognition. The primary objective of the PA is to achieve a scientific understanding of these experiences.
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Published on March 24, 2026
