Skinner, Maslow, and Psilocybin
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – July 01, 1993
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A compelling personal account describes altered consciousness from psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen. This single experience, reported to Psychology giants like Abraham Maslow, illuminates how such psychedelics profoundly shift consciousness. It suggests that integrating these substances into Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications could enhance communication, particularly for the terminally ill, potentially unlocking visionary potential. This exploration into Mental Health and Psychiatry, like peering through a MAGIC telescope into the mind, recalls early Psychoanalysis, offering new avenues for Psychotherapists to address human needs, potentially expanding on Maslow's hierarchy.
Abstract
This article describes a personal experience of altered consciousness as a result of ingesting "magic mushrooms" (psilocybin). It also briefly notes the reactions of Fred Skinner and Abraham Maslow to a report to them of this experience made by the author when he was a graduate student 30 years ago. Familiarity with the effects of hallucinogens may facilitate communication with terminally ill individuals, and such substances may serve as efficacious tools for actualizing visionary potential.