Learning from boundlessness: epistemic shifts towards a holistic worldview following psychedelic experiences

TL;DR

Psychedelic experiences can lead to lasting changes in how people view themselves and the world, promoting a more connected and compassionate outlook.

Contribution

This study identifies specific epistemic shifts linked to psychedelic experiences, emphasizing expanded awareness and interconnectedness.

Findings

Awe and connectedness during psychedelic experiences correlate with increased self-other overlap post-experience.

Three clusters of epistemic shifts were identified: expanded awareness, boundary dissolution, and increased prosociality.

Psychedelic experiences may foster holistic worldviews and ecological awareness.

Abstract

Psychedelic substances are increasingly recognized for their potential to catalyse transformative shifts in worldviews. Central to these transformations may be the integration of self-transcendent states. This mixed-methods study explored transformative psychedelic experiences, focussing on subsequent epistemic shifts. Ninety participants completed the Awe Experience Scale (AWE-S), and the Inclusion of Other in Self Scale (IOS) and open-ended questions exploring epistemic changes. The vastness and connectedness components of awe recalled from the acute psychedelic experience were significantly positively associated with perceived self–other overlap post-experience. Thematic Network Analysis revealed three epistemic shift clusters: (1) expanded awareness and openness to complexity, (2) dissolution of societal and natural boundaries, (3) increased prosociality, compassion and acceptance of difference. Together, these patterns suggest that boundary-expanding experiences can promote reflective meaning-making towards more holistic, interconnected frameworks of understanding self, others, and the world. We discuss the potential of psychedelic experiences to foster prosocial and ecologically aware worldviews, and highlight the need for further research to identify culturally attuned resources for supporting the integration of transformative psychedelic experiences.

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