A Social History and Analysis of the Lsd Controversy
Journal of Humanistic Psychology October 1, 1983 Roy F. Baumeister, Kathleen S. Placidi 31 citations
LSD use evolved from a tool for self-exploration, curiosity, and spiritual insight to a recreational pursuit focused on fun. Early users sought personal and existential revelations, but opposition grew as LSD became a symbol of generational conflict, political dissent, and threats to traditional values. LSD use declined because changing social conditions among youth demanded a drug experience LSD could not provide, and shifts in users' attitudes and preparation altered the nature of the experience. The review discusses how drug preference relates to social conditions, attributional biases about drugs, and parallels between the behaviors of LSD proponents and opponents.