Chemical Creativity
Critical studies in risk and uncertainty October 13, 2020 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-57081-1_8 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMicrodosing mind-altering substances such as LSD and magic mushrooms is popular among young creatives, who report enhanced creativity, focus, and productivity. Using virtual ethnography, researchers analyzed users' narratives about their experiences, practices, and motivations with microdosing. They collaborated with participants on online drug-experimentation platforms to combine collective experiences while acknowledging individual expertise. A review of clinical trials comparing psychoactive substances like LSD with placebos provided a clearer picture of microdosing's benefits, how dosages are adjusted, and how users engage in "harm reduction from below" by sharing cautionary tales within the microdosing community. The work offers insight into how this practice develops as it gains popularity among laypeople and academic and scientific communities.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Virtual ethnography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Young creatives who microdose mind-altering substances |
| Keywords | Creativity Popularity Ethnography Harm Magic telescope |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | Users report enhanced creativity, focus, and productivity from microdosing, and the practice involves harm reduction through shared cautionary tales. |
Abstract
Abstract The microdosing of mind-altering substances, like LSD and magic mushrooms, is a trend among young creatives, who report enhanced creativity, improved focus, and other productivity-enhancing effects. This chapter, Chemical Creativity , describes how both users and researchers have been exploring the range of effects of microdosing, including through more experimental ethnographic research. Using virtual ethnography, we analyzed drug users’ narratives of their personal experiences, practices, and motivations with microdosing. We also collaborated with participants using online platforms focused on drug experimentation to generate data, combining their collective experiences while acknowledging individual expertise. Finally, we reviewed research on clinical trials that compare the effects of psychoactive substances, like LSD, with placebos. What emerges is a clearer picture of the benefits of microdosing, how dosages are tweaked, and how users engage in “harm reduction from below” by spreading their cautionary tales within the microdosing world. In so doing, we offer a glimpse into how this relatively new practice develops, as it gains popularity with both laypeople and the academic and scientific communities.