Psychedelics and the Entropic Brain Beyond the Self

Bibliographic Data

ID12389605
AuthorsHans Van Eyghen (0000-0002-2971-554X, Tilburg University, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume33
Issue4
Pages277-293
Publication date2023-03-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal for the Psychology of Religion (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1050-8619 • E-ISSN: 1532-7582
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10508619.2023.2192078
OpenAlexW4361214978
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited59

A increasing number of studies points toward beneficial effects of psychedelic experiences if administered in the right setting. A smaller number of studies present explanations for why psychedelics have these therapeutic effects. Of these most argue that psychedelic experiences increase neuroplasticity, allowing subjects to let go of unhelpful entrenched beliefs. I argue that (1) psychedelics are likely therapeutic because they help subjects align their beliefs with their respective contexts; (2) relaxation of entrenched beliefs need not occur at higher cognitive levels concerned with the self or ego to be therapeutic; and (3) the proneness toward having supernatural entity experiences can be explained using this contextual approach. I conclude that therapeutic effects of psychedelics are not necessarily tied to beliefs about the self

Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Id, ego and super-ego · Psychotherapist · Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques · Chemical synthesis and alkaloids · Neuroscience · Psychedelics and Drug Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology

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