Psychedelic-induced mystical experiences: An interdisciplinary discussion and critique

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Religious Studies
• Anthropology

Background:

• Contemporary psychedelic research frequently references 'mystical' subjective effects.
• Psychometric assessments link these experiences to positive mental health outcomes.
• However, this research minimally intersects with humanities and social science scholarship on mysticism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine the concept of 'mysticism' in psychedelic research.
• To identify limitations and biases, such as perennialist and Christian bias, in current operationalizations.
• To propose more nuanced, culturally-sensitive, and historically-informed approaches.

Main Methods:

• Historical analysis of the concept of 'mystical experiences' in psychedelic research.
• Comparative review of existing operationalizations against humanities and social science scholarship.
• Conceptual outlining of complementary 'non-mystical' approaches.

Main Results:

• Current operationalizations of mystical experiences in psychedelic research lack historical context and exhibit inherent biases.
• The concept is often rooted in perennialist and Christian perspectives, overlooking diverse cultural and historical understandings of mysticism.
• There is a need for interdisciplinary dialogue to refine theoretical and empirical approaches.

Conclusions:

• Psychedelic research's use of 'mysticism' requires critical re-evaluation for historical and cultural biases.
• Developing more nuanced, culturally-sensitive operationalizations is crucial for advancing the field.
• Integrating complementary non-mystical frameworks can enhance empirical investigation and neuro-psychological linkages.