Values and Beliefs of Psychedelic Drug Users: A Cross-Cultural Study
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – June 01, 2006
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Individuals who use hallucinogens like psilocybin demonstrate a distinct psychological profile, scoring higher on mystical beliefs, spirituality, and concern for others, while valuing financial prosperity less. This pattern emerged from a psychology study of 183 people, including 88 psychedelic users, 29 non-psychedelic illegal drug users, and 66 social drinkers, and held true across cultures. Furthermore, both groups using illegal drugs exhibited greater empathy than social drinkers. This suggests unique enduring psychological characteristics, though pre-existing traits of users may contribute to these associations with psychedelics.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin are often claimed to be capable of inducing life-changing experiences described as mystical or transcendental, especially if high doses are taken. The present study examined possible enduring effects of such experiences by comparing users of psychedelic drugs (n = 88), users of nonpsychedelic illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, amphetamines) (n = 29) and non illicit drug-using social drinkers (n = 66) on questionnaire measures of values, beliefs and emotional empathy. Samples were obtained from Israel (n = 110) and Australia (n = 73) in a cross-cultural comparison to see if values associated with psychedelic drug use transcended culture of origin. Psychedelic users scored significantly higher on mystical beliefs (e.g., oneness with God and the universe) and life values of spirituality and concern for others than the other groups, and lower on the value of financial prosperity, irrespective of culture of origin. Users of nonpsychedelic illegal drugs scored significantly lower on a measure of coping ability than both psychedelic users and non illicit drug users. Both groups of illegal drug users scored significantly higher on empathy than non illicit drug users. Results are discussed in the context of earlier findings from Pahnke (1966) and Doblin (1991) of the transformative effect of psychedelic experiences, although the possibility remains that present findings reflect predrug characteristics of those who chose to take psychedelic drugs rather than effects of the drugs themselves.