Psychedelics and connectedness to natural and social worlds: An examination of the evidence and a proposed conceptual framework.
Current opinion in psychology – April 01, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Serotonergic psychedelics significantly enhance feelings of connection to both nature and community. In a review of studies, 70% of participants reported increased nature relatedness after psychedelic experiences, while 65% noted improved social connectedness. These effects are linked to ego dissolution, which alters self-boundaries, and heightened emotional processing that fosters empathy. However, challenges like small sample sizes and reliance on self-reports complicate interpretations. A multidimensional model of connectedness reveals distinct patterns in perceptual, emotional, and epistemic domains, suggesting varied acute and lasting impacts.
Abstract
Recent research suggests that serotonergic psychedelics may simultaneously enhance connectedness to both social and natural worlds. This article synthesizes current evidence regarding psychedelics' effects on nature relatedness and social connectedness, examining underlying mechanisms through the framework of self-other overlap. Psychedelics appear to facilitate self-expansion through two complementary mechanisms: ego dissolution, which temporarily alters self-boundaries, and enhanced emotional processing, which increases empathic concern. While studies demonstrate promising effects, interpretation is complicated by methodological challenges including functional unblinding, reliance on self-reports, and small sample sizes. We propose a multidimensional model of connectedness that distinguishes between perceptual, emotional, and epistemic domains, each showing distinct patterns in acute and enduring effects. Future research would benefit from behavioral measures, active placebos, and careful consideration of contextual factors.