Psychedelics alter metaphysical beliefs

Abstract

Are psychedelics able to induce lasting changes in metaphysical beliefs? While it is popularly believed that they can, this has never been systematically tested. Here we exploited a large sample derived from prospective online surveying to determine whether and how beliefs concerning the nature of reality, consciousness, and free-will, change after psychedelic use. Results revealed significant shifts away from ‘physicalist’ or ‘materialist’ views, and towards panpsychism and fatalism, post use. These changes remained detectable at 6 months, and were associated with the extent of past use and improved mental-health outcomes. Path modelling suggested that the belief-shifts were moderated by impressionability at baseline and mediated by perceived emotional synchrony with others during the psychedelic experience. The observed belief-shifts post psychedelic use were confirmed by data from an independent controlled clinical trial. Together, these findings imply that psychedelic use has a causal influence on metaphysical beliefs – shifting them away from ‘hard materialism’.

Psychedelics as Tools for Belief Transmission. Set, Setting, Suggestibility, and Persuasion in the Ritual Use of Hallucinogens

“…A remarkable property of psychedelics seems to play a central role in that experiential verification dynamic: their ability to increase suggestibility. This property, already observed by the first wave of research on these substances ( Leary, 1961 ), has been further emphasized in contemporary research studies ( Carhart-Harris et al, 2015 ; Timmermann et al, 2021 ). These works claim that, like hypnosis ( Lynn et al, 2015 ), psychedelic substances produce a state of enhanced suggestibility 24 .…”

“… 26 A recent model of the brain action of psychedelics inspired by predictive coding, known as REBUS – which proposes that psychedelics render high-level beliefs and assumptions more plastic, and that this process is a driving force underlying their phenomenological effects and potential therapeutic outcomes -, may provide some inspiration for further investigations of the neurobiology of belief change processes under psychedelics and their link to increased suggestibility ( Carhart-Harris and Friston, 2019 ; Timmermann et al, 2021 ). …”

Great Expectations: Recommendations for improving the methodological rigor of psychedelic clinical trials

“…by cults in some cases as well as investigated for their alleged potential in "mind control" by the US government during MK Ultra (Cusack 2020;Kogo 2003;Ledford 2021). There is even concern about psychedelics' potential for changing beliefs (e.g., political or metaphysical; Pace and Devenot 2021;Timmermann et al 2021) and memories, though that is beyond the scope of this review. Hartogsohn (2021) noted that the fundamental role of expectations in psychedelic drug effects may reconcile the paradoxical conceptions that have been held about the drugs-views that are so varied, it at times sounds as though scientists are discussing completely different drugs (e.g., they have been used to both treat mental illness and induce a model psychosis).…”

“…Vagueness regarding the acute effects of psychedelics has tradeoffs as well: although it may improve masking, there are clear ethical concerns as participants need to be able to give fully informed consent. This consideration is especially true with psychedelic studies, as psychedelic experiences have been described as "life changing" and have the potential to affect one's social relationships (Ross et al 2016), spirituality (Griffiths et al 2006), and worldview (Timmermann et al 2021). Although researchers have begun to address the methodological challenges associated with masking, treatment expectations, and their combined impact that can bias study results, there is a need to advance the rigor of future research.…”

Restorative Retelling for Processing Psychedelic Experiences: Rationale and Case Study of Complicated Grief

“…Our inner world can be understood in terms of schemas that act as a cognitive-emotional guide for perceiving ourselves, people, and events, and effectively planning and acting in our world ( Epstein, 1990 ). Given that the assimilation of psychedelic experiences has a powerful capacity for mediating major shifts in perspective ( Forstmann et al, 2020 ; Timmermann et al, 2021 ), the goal of this procedure is to prompt a psychological increase, expansion, or development in cognitive-emotional understandings of themselves, others, and the world.…”