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A phenomenological inquiry into the spiritual qualities and transformational themes associated with a self-styled rite of passage into adulthood

Ivory, Brian Thomas
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1055769211

Abstract Details

2003, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Educational Policy and Leadership.
Western cultures have largely abandoned rituals that recognize and facilitate the transition into adulthood. This cultural indifference prompts some undergraduates—i.e., those with a felt-need for initiation-like experience—to seek out available forms of ritualization (e.g., an outdoor adventure challenge). Some college students may attempt to meet this need by creating their own ritual activities. Potential forms of alternative initiations include “self-styled rites of passage.” This type of “ritual intervention” is understood as voluntary, time-intensive sojourns into differentiating contexts with the intention of realizing transitional, transformational and/or spiritual outcomes. In this investigation, I explore the spiritual and transformational outcomes associated with a self-styled rite of passage into adulthood. The subject matter (i.e., lived experience) in this autobiographical case study involves my 1985 foreign study experience in Newfoundland and Labrador. The phenomenological data used include: primary material generated as the experience was lived (e.g., journals), and secondary data collected specifically for this investigation (e.g., interviews). Consistent with my research methodology (i.e., hermeneutic phenomenology), a lived experience narrative was (re)constructed for the purposes of animating the primary research question: What is it like to experience a self-styled rite of passage? An interpretation of this phenomenological description explicates the “spiritual qualities” and “transformational themes” associated with my lived experience. The “phenomenological insights” offered at the end of this study constitute my re-conceptualization of this study topic. “Recommendations for improved practice” are provided based on several conclusions regarding self-styled rites of passage: (1) This researcher sees no great harm in “framing” lived experiences as a self-styled rite of passage. Such conscious framing can help college students language, structure, and interpret ritual interventions; (2) Self-styled rites of passage will be more effective when attention is given to non-Western values, and to the social, communal, and/or spiritual contexts in which ritual interventions occur; (3) With regard to structuring self-styled rites of passage, undergraduates are strongly advised to participate in ritual interventions coordinated by experiential education programs (e.g., Outward Bound); and (4) College students should actively ritualize before (i.e., ritual preparation) and after (i.e., ritual integration) participating in experiential education programs (i.e., ritual intervention).
Robert Rodgers (Advisor)
491 p.
rites of passage,; initiation into adulthood,; experiential education,; study abroad,; spirituality,; transformation,; autobiographical case study; hermeneutic phenomenology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ivory, B. T. (2003). A phenomenological inquiry into the spiritual qualities and transformational themes associated with a self-styled rite of passage into adulthood [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1055769211

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ivory, Brian. A phenomenological inquiry into the spiritual qualities and transformational themes associated with a self-styled rite of passage into adulthood. 2003. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1055769211.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ivory, Brian. "A phenomenological inquiry into the spiritual qualities and transformational themes associated with a self-styled rite of passage into adulthood." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2003. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1055769211

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1055769211
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© 2003, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.