Learning from Boundlessness: Psychedelic induced awe and epistemic shifts towards a holistic worldview
Research Square March 31, 2025 Eirini K. Argyri, F C Fraser, Stefan Schilling et al.
Awe experienced during psychedelic trips is linked to lasting changes in how people perceive boundaries between themselves and the world, and to shifts in their ways of knowing. In a mixed-methods study of 90 participants, awe—especially its connectedness and vastness aspects—was significantly correlated with increased overlap between self and others. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses identified three clusters of epistemic change: dissolving societal and natural boundaries, expanding awareness and openness to complexity, and increasing prosociality, compassion, and acceptance of difference. The findings suggest that psychedelic-induced awe may help foster a more holistic worldview, with potential benefits for prosocial and ecological awareness.