Transformative Cognition

Personal change is generally considered as a gradual and linear process, which occurs either as a result of maturation over the lifespan or as the result of therapeutic interventions. However, research from different disciplines-including anthropology, philosophy, and psychology suggests the existence of a second type of change-transformative or transformational - which involves a radical and long-lasting shift in the individual's core beliefs, values, and attitudes. In this contribution, I will review key definitions and conceptualizations of transformative experience, discuss the scientific and practical relevance of this construct, and suggest some future directions for research.