Dr. Reed’s Theory of Self-Transcendence
About Pamela Reed
- Born in Detroit, Michigan
- Baccalaureate degree from Wayne State University-1974
- Master of Science in psychiatric-mental health of children and adolescents and in nursing education-1976
- Ph.D. concentration in nursing theory and research, minor in
adult development and aging-1982 and dissertation research focused on the relationship between well-being and spiritual perspectives on life and death terminally ill and well individuals.
Nursing Paradigm
- Person: People are viewed as human beings who develop over the lifespan through interactions with other people and within an environment of changing complexity that could both positively and negatively contribute to health and well-being.
- Environment: The environment is composed of family, social networks, physical surroundings, and community resources, all of which make significant contributions to the health processes that nurses influence through their management of the therapeutic interactions among people, objects, and nursing activities.
- Health: Defines health in the context of well-being. Well-being is a sense of feeling whole and healthy, according to one’s own criteria for wholeness and health.
- Nursing: The role of nursing activity is to assist people through interpersonal and therapeutic management of their environment to promote health and well-being.
Dr. Reed’s 2 Major Assumptions
1. Human beings are integral to their environment.
As we, had previously mentioned, the theory was influenced by Martha Roger’s Science of Humanity Human Beings, where it is believed that humans are one and co-extensive with the environment. Human being is more than and different than the sum of its parts and that we have continuous interaction with the environment, exchanging matter and energy (Rogers, 1980). Reed believes that as person with these innate characteristics, we are able to expand our current boundaries to help attain optimum wellness, healthy state of mind and a good sense of well-being. It is important to understand that when we talk about expanding our boundaries, the theory postulates 4 ways of self-transcendence (Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, Temporal and Transpersonal) in accomplishing these human potentials.
2. Self-Transcendence is a developmental imperative.
Self-Transcendence theory posits the role of the person as a human resource and as an integral component to well-being, as we are all capable of development in which progress can be observed through outward expression. It is necessary for a nurse to recognize this importance to successfully plan and execute nursing interventions.
–A Blog about Pamela Reed’s Theory
About the Self-Transcendence Concepts
Reed (1991) defines self-transcendence as “expansion of self-conceptual boundaries multidimensionally: inwardly (e.g., through introspective experiences), outwardly (e.g., by reaching out to others), and temporally (whereby past and future are integrated into the present).” She later added another type of expansion: transpersonal expansion, in which the individual connects “with dimensions beyond the typically discernible world” (Reed, 2003).
According to Reed’s theory, people can be considered open systems (as opposed to closed systems, which do not take in new information and are not open to change) whose only obstacle between themselves and self-transcendence is the boundary they impose upon themselves. Humans need some conceptual boundaries, of course, but the expansion of these boundaries outward to include more of the environment, more human beings, etc., puts people in a state of greater connectedness with their environment and encourages a sense of “wholeness” they may not otherwise have (Reed, 1991).
This state of expanded consciousness is what Reed calls a developmental imperative; like Viktor Frankl and Abraham Maslow, Reed’s theory posits that self-transcendence is a natural and desired developmental stage, which people must reach in order to be fulfilled and to have a sense of purpose (Reed, 2003).
Three important concepts form the core of Reed’s theory, including self-transcendence; the other two concepts are:
- Vulnerability: the awareness of one’s own mortality that develops with age, health issues, and crises.
- Well-being: the sense of being healthy, whole, and generally fulfilled and satisfied with one’s state.
These three concepts are vital pieces of the three major hypotheses of Reed’s theory:
- Older adults (especially those nearing the end of their life) will generally have higher self-transcendence than younger people (note: this has been supported by research, e.g., Ellermann & Reed, 2001).
- Conceptual boundaries can fluctuate, and will likely affect well-being when they do.
- The relationship between vulnerability, self-transcendence, and well-being is modified and facilitated by a person’s own traits and characteristics and the environment in which they are situated (Reed, 1991).
Additional Information & References
- Contact Information
- Dr. Reed’s theory model and outline by herself! at Nursology
- Powerpoint Presentation of the model (PDF)
