Unusual experiences and their association with metacognition: investigating ASMR and Tulpamancy

Summary

In non-clinical groups, unusual sensory experiences like those in Tulpamancy and ASMR communities are not linked to stronger metacognitive beliefs, but having multiple such experiences is associated with higher hallucination-proneness. Tulpamancers who also experience ASMR scored higher on hallucination-proneness than controls, while Tulpamancers reported lower endorsement of metacognitive beliefs. No differences emerged in delusion-proneness, self-reflection, or self-schemas across groups. Metacognition influences unusual experiences in non-clinical populations, and the relationship varies by group. Improving metacognition in clinical populations may help reduce distress tied to unusual sensory experiences.

Study at a glance

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Unusual experiences in Tulpamancer and Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) communities are generally positive and sought after, unlike hallucinations and delusions in clinical populations. Metacognition, the ability to reflect on self-referential experiences, may aid sense-making around unusual experiences, reducing distress. This study investigated group differences in hallucination-proneness, delusion-proneness, and metacognition in these communities compared to controls, and whether metacognition predicted unusual experiences. METHODS: 243 participants reporting ASMR, Tulpamancy, or neither, with no history of psychosis, took part in an online observational study. Participants completed the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale, Metacognitions Questionnaire-30, and Brief Core Schema Scales to capture metacognition. A Tulpamancer+ (reporting ASMR) group was identified and included in analyses. ANCOVAs highlighted group differences in hallucination-proneness, with Tulpamancer+ scoring higher, and metacognitive beliefs, with Tulpamancers reporting lower metacognitive belief endorsement. There were no group differences in delusion-proneness, self-reflection, or self-schemas. Stepwise regression demonstrated metacognition does influence unusual experiences in the non-clinical population, and this influence varies across groups. CONCLUSIONS: In non-clinical populations, unusual sensory experiences are not associated with increased metacognitive beliefs, but having multiple unusual experiences is associated with higher hallucination-proneness. Results suggest improving metacognition in clinical groups may help reduce distress related to unusual sensory experiences.

Tags