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Moving Past Mysticism in Psychedelic Science
James W Sanders1, Josjan Zijlmans2
1Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science
|June 21, 2021
Summary
The mysticism framework, often used for psychedelic experiences, poses risks in scientific research. A demystified model is encouraged to better understand psychedelic therapies and their effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The mysticism framework is frequently applied to understand psychedelic experiences and therapeutic effects.
- This framework is associated with supernatural or non-empirical belief systems, posing challenges for scientific inquiry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the inherent risks and difficulties of using the mysticism framework in psychedelic research.
- To advocate for the development and adoption of a demystified model for studying psychedelic states.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and conceptual analysis of the mysticism framework in psychedelic research.
- Identification of potential risks associated with non-empirical interpretations of psychedelic experiences.
Main Results:
- The use of a mysticism framework can introduce biases and hinder objective scientific investigation of psychedelic therapies.
- Challenges include the subjective nature of experiences and the difficulty in establishing empirical validation.
Conclusions:
- Mitigating risks in psychedelic research requires moving beyond mystical interpretations.
- A demystified model of the psychedelic state is crucial for advancing scientific understanding and therapeutic applications.
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