A Test of the Psychedelic Model of Altered States of Consciousness

The term "psychedelic" applied to altered states of consciousness suggests that such subjective anomalies arise from normal psychological functioning. Anomalous experience depends on sensitization to immediate subjective state, which is nonadaptive and cuts off intentionality at a primitive microgenetic level. This hypothesis was confirmed experimentally: groups given instructions for direct sensitization to immediate subjective state reported striking incidence of anomalous subjective reports after ten minutes of isolation and inactivity, compared with nonsensitization groups. Additionally, analysis of early introspectionist experimental protocols revealed subjective anomalies similar to those in drug and meditational states, supporting a psychedelic model of altered states.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The term "psychedelic" applied to "altered states of consciousness" would imply that such subjective anomalies are direct expressions of normal psychological functioning. The anomaly in such experience would depend in the first instance on sensitization to qualities of immediate subjective state. Such sensitization should in itself be considered nonadaptive, cutting off the "intentionality" of psychic functioning at a microgenetically primitive level. This hypothesis was experimentally confirmed, in a setting involving isolation and inactivity for a period of ten minutes, by the striking incidence of anomalous subjective reports in groups provided instructions involving direct sensitization to immediate subjective state compared with nonsensitization groups. In addition, as would be predicted from a "psychedelic" model of altered states, a study of the experimental protocols of the early introspectionists revealed subjective anomalies similar to those found in drug and meditational states.