Summary:
The paper investigates the effect of single or repeated set of holotropic breathwork on certain
personality properties, attitudes and the value orientation. Eighty one subjects participated in
the research (36 „breathers“, 34 „non-breathers“ and 11 „fi rst-breathers“). The group of breathers
was constituted by persons who participated in the at least four sessions of holotropic breathwork;
responders from the non-breather group were comparable on the basis of the following criteria: sex,
age and education. The experimental subjects from the fi rst-breather subjects were tested for the
fi rst time before their fi rst holotropic breathwork session and retested afterwards (after about three
weeks). The investigated variables were measured by means of the Life test (P.I.L.) of Crumbaugh and
Maholick, test of attitudes and values (Value-Belief Q-sort) of Harman, Fadiman and Mogar and the
Personal orientation inventory (P.O.I.) according to Shostrom.
In the fi rst-breathers, there was a signifi cant improvement in the satisfaction of needs for the
meaning of life and a signifi cant decrease of rigidity and dogmatism. It became obvious that the
breathers were less rigid and dogmatism in comparison with non-breathers (including scientifi c
area), display positive changes in their attitude to unusual understanding of the reality, are less
inclined to believe in conventional values and apply them with a higher fl exibility. Their approach to
reality is also more adequate and they re able to live the present moment, are more self-suffi cient and
more independent on the attitudes of other people, more sensitive to their own feelings and needs,
express more spontaneity, experience a higher self-esteem and exert a better capacity to socialize
cordially. All these differences were statistically signifi cant. The breathers did not experience a better
satisfaction in their need for life meaning than the non-breathers. The experience from the holotropic
breathwork session was evaluated by all participants as a contribution to better communication with
people, a deeper knowledge of the surrounding world and a higher acceptance of previously refused
opinions and thoughts.
Key words:
holotropic breathwork, transpersonal psychology, values and attitudes.
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