Gibbs, J. C. (1997). Surprise - and discovery? - in the near-death experience. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 15(4) 259-278.
Abstract: Expressions of surprise and puzzlement lend a ring of authenticity to self-reports of near-death experiences (NDEs). In the autoscopic component of the NDE, experiencers have reported surprise upon identifying an observed body as their own; upon finding that they are unable to affect earthly events or people; and upon experiencing extraordinary visual and mobile abilities. In the transcendental component, experiencers are often surprised that their “eyes” do not hurt in the presence of an intense light, and that deceased loved ones come to them, particularly in those cases in which the subject reports the presence of a loved one whose recent death was not known to the subject. Surprise typically indicates the discovery of novel features of reality during the cognition-reality interplay that makes learning possible. If at least some NDE surprises are discoveries in a nonsubjective sense, then that cognition-reality interplay can continue during moments near death as subjects learn that self and reality must be understood to include a nonmaterial realm.
Copyright: © 2008 International Association for Near-Death Studies
Link: http://www.iands.org
Topics:
Characteristics of NDEs—Autoscopy, Out-of-Body
Characteristics of NDEs—Emotions NOS
Characteristics of NDEs—Encountering Beings, Deceased or Living
Characteristics of NDEs—Light, Mystical
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Kinesthetic
Characteristics of NDEs NOS
Explanations of NDEs—Physiological, Neurological, Brain
Explanations of NDEs NOS
Interpretations of NDEs
Non-NDErs' Attitude Change after Learning about NDEs
Non-NDErs' Attitudes toward NDEs
Psychopathology and NDEs—Hallucinations
Psychopathology and NDEs NOS
Science and NDEs