Of Roots and Fruits: A Comparison of Psychedelic and Nonpsychedelic Mystical Experiences

Yaden, David B.; Nguyen, Khoa D.; Kern, Margaret L.; Belser, Alexander B.; Eichstaedt, Johannes C.; Iwry, Jonathan; Smith, Mary Ellen; Wintering, Nancy; Hood, Ralph W.; Newberg, Andrew B.

doi:10.1177/0022167816674625

Cited by 78 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…This notion is further supported by the observation that both psychedelic and awe experiences are characterized by a reduced sense of the self (Yaden et al 2017). An extreme instance is the experience of ego dissolution, whereby the boundaries of the ego are temporarily disrupted, the self is felt to be integrated into a greater whole, and an increased feeling of unity with one's surroundings is experienced.…”

Section: Psychedelic Experiences: Mysticism Awe and Ego Dissolutionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Broadening Your Mind to Include Others - The relationship between serotonergic psychedelic experiences and maladaptive narcissism_PREPRINT

Mulukom¹,

Patterson²,

M³

2020

Preprint

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RationaleThere has been a recent increase in research showing that classical serotonergic psychedelic (CSP) drugs may be used to ameliorate certain health issues and disorders. Here we hypothesized that CSP experiences, through their ability to induce awe and ego-dissolution, may result in a reduction of maladaptive narcissistic personality traits, such as a strong sense of entitlement and lack of empathy. ObjectivesOur objective was to investigate whether high levels of awe and ego dissolution during recent CSP experiences are associated with current lower levels of maladaptive narcissism.Methods In this pre-registered high-powered (N = 414) study, we used an online survey including several validated scales to test our hypothesis. ResultsA statistically significant mediation model indicated that recent CSP-induced awe experiences were associated with increased feelings of connectedness and affective empathetic drive, which in turn were associated with decreased exploitative-entitled narcissism. This relationship held even when taking into account sensation-seeking personality features. We found no evidence for feelings of ego dissolution during the experience to have the same effect. ConclusionsFeelings of awe, but not ego dissolution, during recent CSP experiences were associated with increased feelings of connectedness and empathy, which in turn were associated with decreased levels of maladaptive narcissism personality features. This suggests that there is a therapeutic potential of CSPs for disorders involving connectedness and empathy, such as the treatment of pathological narcissism and other clinical disorders, and that the induction of connectedness through awe appears to be the driving force behind this potential.

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Section: Psychedelic Experiences: Mysticism Awe and Ego Dissolutionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Broadening Your Mind to Include Others - The relationship between serotonergic psychedelic experiences and maladaptive narcissism_PREPRINT

Mulukom¹,

Patterson²,

M³

2020

Preprint

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“…I n the current paper, we describe the results we obtained through the use of an online survey of people's most intense spiritual experiences (Yaden et al, , 2016. This research arose because of a recognized absence of phenomenological data regarding such experiences.…”

Section: The Spiritual Awakening Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Subjects were asked about their demographics, SES, religious background, current religious tradition, medical conditions and medications. In addition, the website contained several, standardized questionnaires designed to obtain information about the person's sense of spirituality, religion, perspectives on death, and intensity of spiritual experiences (see Yaden et al, 2016;Yaden et al, 2017).…”

Section: The Spiritual Awakening Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This data has begun to be published in Yaden et al (2015Yaden et al ( , 2016Yaden et al ( , 2017, and a summary and additional analysis of the overall evaluation of the various narratives and other descriptions and data is provided. It is important again to note that the subjects were not necessarily proficient meditators, and were not highly religious or spiritual individuals, per se.…”

Section: Newberg and Waldmanmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Is there a common thread or specific approach one can take to evoke them? These questions, and many others, have been part of a growing number of survey studies, including several from our research group (Yaden et al, 2015(Yaden et al, , 2016(Yaden et al, , 2017.…”

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confidence: 99%

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A Neurotheological Approach to Spiritual Awakening

2018

IJTS

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A neurotheological approach suggests an analysis of spiritual awakening experiences by combining phenomenological data with neuroscience. This paper presents a synthesis combining information on the thoughts, feelings, and experiences associated with spiritual awakening experiences and neurophysiological data, primarily from neuroimaging studies, to help assess which brain structures might be associated with these experiences. Brain structures involved with emotions correlate with emotional responses while areas of the brain associated with the sense of self appear to correlate with the key feature of these experiences in which an individual loses the sense of self and feels intimately connected with God, universal consciousness, or the universe. This paper also seeks to address the assumption whether awakened states as described in popular spirituality are similar or different compared to spiritual enlightenment as described in Eastern spiritual traditions. Thus, the implications of such a neurotheological analysis are also considered.

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Psilocybin occasioned mystical‐type experiences

James

Robertshaw

Hoskins

et al. 2020

Human Psychopharmacology

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Objective Research into psychedelic therapy models has shown promise for the treatment of specific psychiatric conditions. Mystical‐type experiences occasioned by psilocybin have been correlated with therapeutic benefits and long‐term improvements in positive mental outlook and attitudes. This article aims to provide an overview of the topic, highlight strengths and weaknesses in current research, generate novel perspectives and discussion, and consider future avenues for research. Design This narrative review was designed to summarise and assess the state of research on psilocybin occasioned mystical‐type experiences and applications for the treatment of specific psychiatric conditions. Results Contemporary methods on the quantification of mystical‐type experiences and their acute subjective effects are discussed. Recent studies provide some understanding of the pharmacological actions of psychedelics although the neurological similarities and differences between spontaneous and psychedelic mystical‐type experiences are not well described. Applicability to modern clinical settings is assessed. Potential novel therapeutic applications include use in positive psychology interventions in healthy individuals. Conclusions Since 2006 significant advancements in understanding the therapeutic potential of psilocybin‐assisted psychotherapy have been made; however, more work is required to understand the neuromechanistic processes and applicability in modern clinical settings. Despite promising results in recent studies, funding issues for clinical trials, legal concerns and socio‐cultural resistance provide a counterpoint to experimental evidence.

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Of Roots and Fruits: A Comparison of Psychedelic and Nonpsychedelic Mystical Experiences

Cited by 78 publications

References 39 publications

Broadening Your Mind to Include Others - The relationship between serotonergic psychedelic experiences and maladaptive narcissism_PREPRINT

Broadening Your Mind to Include Others - The relationship between serotonergic psychedelic experiences and maladaptive narcissism_PREPRINT

A Neurotheological Approach to Spiritual Awakening

Psilocybin occasioned mystical‐type experiences

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