The Renewal of Psychedelic Research: Implications for Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology.

Medication trials at major U.S. research universities are legally exploring psychedelics' potential for treating physical and psychological problems. Although approved under a medical model viewing psychedelics' effects as primarily biochemical, some studies also address humanistic and transpersonal implications. These studies may challenge a medical model of psychopathology that reduces humans to biology and leads to treatments that constrict, rather than enhance, human potential. Psychedelics offer potential as tools for researching elusive areas within humanistic and transpersonal psychology and for facilitating humanistic and transpersonal growth.

Study at a glance

Abstract

A number of medication trials at major U.S. research universities are now, once more, legally exploring psychedelics' vast potential for treating various physical and psychological problems. These studies have been approved based on a medical model that considers psychedelics' effects as primarily biochemical, but some are also addressing wider humanistic and transpersonal implications for research and praxis. These studies may challenge the prevailing medical model of psychopathology that not only reduces humans to just their biology but also has led to widespread medical treatments through formularies that predominantly constrict, rather than enhance, human potential. Psychedelics offer great potential as tools for researching elusive areas within humanistic and transpersonal psychology, as well as powerful ways to facilitate humanistic and transpersonal growth.