Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
John Vervaeke, Gregg Henriques and Matthew Schaublin come together for a discussion covering the concept of authenticity. Matthew Schaublin presents findings from two studies, one of which employs a mixed-methods design to examine the interplay between authenticity, agency, and self-transformation through both narrative analysis and psychometric assessment. The findings reveal that authentic experiences are often marked not by internal self-consistency alone, but by themes of communion, deep relational connection, emotional resonance, and shared understanding. This challenges static, individualistic models of the self and instead supports a dialogical conception in which authenticity emerges through interaction and mutual recognition. The conversation also highlights how current psychological frameworks fail to account for the complexity of lived, meaningful experience. Together, Matthew, Gregg, and John propose a more dynamic, relational, and transjective understanding of selfhood and agency.
Gregg R. Henriques is an American psychologist. He is a professor for the Combined-Integrated Doctoral Program at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, US.
Matthew Schaublin is a master’s candidate in psychology at the University of Chattanooga, with a four-year research focus on authenticity. His work blends empirical psychology with philosophical and classical inquiry, investigating how dispositional authenticity is expressed and experienced.
—-
Notes:
0:00 Introduction to the Lectern
0:20 John Gives a Recap of Part One: Autonomy, Authenticity, and the Fragmented Self
2:00 Study Design Explained
3:30 Communion in Transformative Moments
5:00 Data Collection and Analysis
7:00 Agency in Authentic vs. Transformative
10:30 Coding the Self - Agency, Communion, and Authenticity Themes
15:00 Themes of Being Unauthentic
16:30 Henriques on Persona, Ego, and the Influence Matrix
21:00 Philosophical Roots of Authenticity
25:00 The Limits of Reductionism - A Mixed Methods Defense
34:30 The Justification Machine - Interpretation and Cognitive Framing
38:30 Narratives of Agency and Self-Actualization
42:00 Communal Connections and Authenticity
44:30 Intimacy and Affiliation
55:00 Predicting Agency in Narratives
58:30 Statistical Findings - Self-Alienation, Agency, and Thematic Expression
1:02:00 Significant Findings and Interpretations
1:15:00 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions
—--
Connect with a community dedicated to self-discovery and purpose, and gain deeper insights by joining our Patreon. patreon.com/johnvervaeke
The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Become a part of our mission. vervaekefoundation.org
Join Awaken to Meaning to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships. awakentomeaning.com
John Vervaeke:
johnvervaeke.com
twitter.com/vervaeke_john
youtube.com/@johnvervaeke
patreon.com/johnvervaeke
Gregg Henriques:
gregghenriques.com
https://x.com/henriqgx
Matthew Shaublin:
instagram.com/matthewschaublin
John Vervaeke, Gregg Henriques and Matthew Schaublin come together for a discussion covering the concept of authenticity. Matthew Schaublin presents findings from two studies, one of which employs a mixed-methods design to examine the interplay between authenticity, agency, and self-transformation through both narrative analysis and psychometric assessment. The findings reveal that authentic experiences are often marked not by internal self-consistency alone, but by themes of communion, deep relational connection, emotional resonance, and shared understanding. This challenges static, individualistic models of the self and instead supports a dialogical conception in which authenticity emerges through interaction and mutual recognition. The conversation also highlights how current psychological frameworks fail to account for the complexity of lived, meaningful experience. Together, Matthew, Gregg, and John propose a more dynamic, relational, and transjective understanding of selfhood and agency.
Gregg R. Henriques is an American psychologist. He is a professor for the Combined-Integrated Doctoral Program at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, US.
Matthew Schaublin is a master’s candidate in psychology at the University of Chattanooga, with a four-year research focus on authenticity. His work blends empirical psychology with philosophical and classical inquiry, investigating how dispositional authenticity is expressed and experienced.
—-
Notes:
0:00 Introduction to the Lectern
0:20 John Gives a Recap of Part One: Autonomy, Authenticity, and the Fragmented Self
2:00 Study Design Explained
3:30 Communion in Transformative Moments
5:00 Data Collection and Analysis
7:00 Agency in Authentic vs. Transformative
10:30 Coding the Self - Agency, Communion, and Authenticity Themes
15:00 Themes of Being Unauthentic
16:30 Henriques on Persona, Ego, and the Influence Matrix
21:00 Philosophical Roots of Authenticity
25:00 The Limits of Reductionism - A Mixed Methods Defense
34:30 The Justification Machine - Interpretation and Cognitive Framing
38:30 Narratives of Agency and Self-Actualization
42:00 Communal Connections and Authenticity
44:30 Intimacy and Affiliation
55:00 Predicting Agency in Narratives
58:30 Statistical Findings - Self-Alienation, Agency, and Thematic Expression
1:02:00 Significant Findings and Interpretations
1:15:00 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions
—--
Connect with a community dedicated to self-discovery and purpose, and gain deeper insights by joining our Patreon. patreon.com/johnvervaeke
The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Become a part of our mission. vervaekefoundation.org
Join Awaken to Meaning to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships. awakentomeaning.com
John Vervaeke:
johnvervaeke.com
twitter.com/vervaeke_john
youtube.com/@johnvervaeke
patreon.com/johnvervaeke
Gregg Henriques:
gregghenriques.com
https://x.com/henriqgx
Matthew Shaublin:
instagram.com/matthewschaublin
