Journal of humanistic psychology
October 9, 2021
Adele Lafrance, E. Strahan, Brian M. Bird et al.
40 citations
A survey of 159 people who had used classic psychedelics found that such use was linked to greater spirituality, which in turn predicted better emotion regulation, and ultimately lower levels of anxiety, depressed mood, and disordered eating. The results suggest a pathway through which psychedelic use may improve mental health by first enhancing spirituality and then improving the ability to manage emotions. The findings add to evidence that cultivating spirituality and emotion regulation may be healing mechanisms, though the study does not establish causation.
Journal of humanistic psychology
December 5, 2019
Simone Bianco, I. Testoni, A. Palmieri et al.
35 citations
People who have had a near-death experience report lower fear of death, higher self-esteem, greater mindfulness, and a view of death as a transition rather than annihilation, compared to those who have not. The effect of a near-death experience on death anxiety is both direct and indirect, mediated by changes in self-esteem and how death is represented. These findings, based on 102 individuals with a near-death experience and 104 without, suggest that psychological factors beyond the experience itself contribute to reduced death anxiety.
Journal of humanistic psychology
February 10, 2022
Terence H. W. Ching, Monnica T. Williams, S. Reed et al.
10 citations
A mixed-methods case study examined whether a person of color with treatment-resistant PTSD would benefit from MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) as much as participants in earlier, less diverse trials. The participant showed quantitative improvement in PTSD symptoms. An interpretative phenomenological analysis of therapy session transcripts revealed recurrent themes related to psychological mechanisms of symptom change, reduced PTSD symptoms, and additional positive and negative effects beyond symptom reduction. The authors discuss these themes and offer recommendations for addressing culturally relevant material during MDMA-AT.
Journal of humanistic psychology
July 12, 2021
Dana W. Sawyer
7 citations
The essay defends the Huxley/Osmond theory that psychedelic drugs can trigger a cross-cultural mystical experience of unity with ultimate reality, countering Constructivist critics who claim the Perennial Philosophy is obsolete. It refutes three specific charges against Aldous Huxley: that he saw his view as religion's core, that he claimed universally shared beliefs, and that his position requires pure consciousness. The essay shows these criticisms misrepresent Huxley and most Perennial Philosophy variants, which form a family of theories like Existentialism. It concludes by proposing new directions for testing the Huxley/Osmond hypothesis, including with psychedelics.
Journal of humanistic psychology
July 20, 2021
Mariavittoria Mangini
2 citations
Women's contributions to psychedelic exploration and research in the twentieth century have been under-reported, with their roles often obscured or subsumed under more famous male figures. Mabel Luhan and Valentina Wasson are known but their individual impacts are not fully represented; Wasson's work is overshadowed by her husband, and Luhan's interference in Taos Pueblo peyote politics is overlooked. Poet Mary Barnard's lyrical psychedelic writing is less celebrated than her Sappho translations. Therapists Gertrude Paltin and Kay Parley wrote valuably on psychedelics for spiritual development, personal discovery, and therapy, yet remain almost unknown. Many other women's significant contributions are poorly recorded.
Journal of humanistic psychology
November 4, 2023
Erik Kuravsky
1 citation
Mindfulness is often treated as a psychological tool for reducing stress or improving performance, but this essay argues that such a utilitarian view misses its deeper existential purpose. Drawing on Heidegger’s philosophy, the author contends that human suffering stems from an anxious rejection of nothingness, which forces beings to be experienced only as objects of attachment, creating a subject–object dualism and radical alienation from the world. This predicament cannot be resolved by using mindfulness as a technique to manage psychological resources, because liberation cannot be achieved through intention. Instead, Heidegger’s concepts of “letting-be,” “objectless waiting,” and “attention to Beyng” show how mindfulness meditation can open a nonintentional dimension of experience where genuine liberation from suffering may occur.
Journal of humanistic psychology
May 21, 2024
Susi Ferrarello, C. Hadjioannou
This special issue explores the relationship between phenomenology and mindfulness, aiming to create a dialogue that highlights overlaps and incongruities between the two traditions. Phenomenology is broadly defined, focusing on the methods and philosophies of Husserl, Heidegger, and Merleau-Ponty, while mindfulness encompasses Buddhist and Stoic-inspired practices and theories. The issue examines how a phenomenological approach can deepen understanding of concepts such as attention, authenticity, time, and dignity, and considers the potential benefits for clinical psychology by exploring connections between mindfulness, well-being, and self-exploration.