Psychedelics as Tools for Belief Transmission. Set, Setting, Suggestibility, and Persuasion in the Ritual Use of Hallucinogens.

Psychedelics may function as tools for transmitting beliefs by enhancing suggestibility and persuasion within ritual contexts. The interaction of set (the user's mindset), setting (the physical and social environment), and the pharmacological effects of hallucinogens can create a heightened state of openness to new ideas and experiences. This process, often occurring in structured rituals, facilitates the adoption of specific beliefs or worldviews. The paper argues that the ritual use of psychedelics can be understood as a mechanism for belief transmission, where the drug's effects are harnessed to promote suggestibility and persuasion, thereby shaping individual and collective belief systems.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psychedelics as Tools for Belief Transmission. Set, Setting, Suggestibility, and Persuasion in the Ritual Use of Hallucinogens.