Psychedelic use predicts objective knowledge about climate change via increases in nature relatedness
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2022
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, directly predict objective knowledge about climate change and indirectly boost concern through increased nature relatedness. This Psychology and Drug Studies insight, from an international survey of 641 participants, suggests the link between substance use and environmental change isn't merely a social psychology bias. Instead, it manifests as genuine ecological affinity and climate knowledge, challenging previous assumptions about self-report limitations. The findings highlight a unique connection between psychedelics and pro-environmental variables, impacting our understanding of environmental psychology.
Abstract
Lifetime psychedelic substance use has previously been linked to nature relatedness and pro-environmental behaviour. Yet, participants’ responses to the self-report measures in these studies may have been affected by stereotypical associations or confirmation bias. We therefore re-examined this link by measuring three pro-environmental dependent variables: nature relatedness, concerns about climate change, and objective knowledge about climate change. Additionally assessing lifetime experience with 30 psychoactive substances, we collected an international convenience sample for an online survey ( n = 641), Controlling for age, educational attainment, and covariation in substance use indicators, psychedelic use (primarily the use of psilocybin) predicted objective knowledge about climate change directly, and indirectly via nature relatedness. Further, it predicted concern about climate change indirectly via nature relatedness. The results suggest that the relationship of psychedelics with pro-environmental variables is not due to psychological biases, but manifests in variables as diverse as emotional affinity towards nature as well as knowledge about climate change.