From Acute Altered States to Durable Change: A Social-Psychological Framework for Contextual Framing, Integration, and Post-Acute Stabilization
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science January 1, 2026 Elias Rubenstein
Acute altered states induced by psychedelics or practices like breathwork do not reliably produce lasting change on their own. A theoretical framework argues that durable psychological, behavioral, and existential transformation depends on contextual framing, post-acute integration, and pre-existing integrative capacities, not just the intensity of the acute experience. The framework compares DMT, ayahuasca, 5-MeO-DMT, psilocybin, LSD, contemplative practice, fasting, breathwork, and near-death experiences without claiming they are identical. It concludes with testable hypotheses about how context, recall, integration, and individual differences shape outcomes.