Transcending Ourselves and Each Other: An Autoethnographic Encounter with Peak Communication Experiences

• In Event: Peak Communication Experiences: Building Bridges between Spiritual and Interpersonal Communication

Abstract

This autoethnography depicts a Peak Communication Experience (PCE) between me and an acquaintance that allowed us to transcend ourselves, each other, and the conversation itself to ultimately build a bridge of understanding and connection between us that surpassed the preconceived notions each of us held about the other. Traditionally, autoethnography has been used as a form of therapeutic expression to analyze the communicative aspects of incidents involving pain, loss, and hardship (Bochner & Ellis, 2006). Peak Communication Experiences, however, are communication in its best and rarest form; these dialogic episodes go beyond the discourse and the participants to create an enlightening communication encounter that captures the spirits of those involved and leaves a lasting impression that is both interpersonal and intrapersonal (Gordon, 1985). Drawing from the psychological foundations of Peak Experiences (Maslow, 1962), and the idea of communication as an act of transcendence (Shepherd, 2006), I explore the “in-the-moment” nature of PCE, reflect on my experience, and discuss the spiritual significance, both practical and theoretical, of these occurrences and why it is critical to capture these rare moments in narrative form.

Author

• Amanda Torrens, Western Michigan Univ