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Cited by 32Paranormal Experiences and BeliefsPsychedelics and Drug StudiesReligion, Spirituality, and Psychology

The experience of altered states of consciousness in shamanic ritual: The role of pre-existing beliefs and affective factors

Polito, Vince, Langdon, Robyn, Brown, Jac·2010·Consciousness and Cognition
DOI 10.1016/j.concog.2010.05.013
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Abstract

Much attention has been paid recently to the role of anomalous experiences in the aetiology of certain types of psychopathology, e.g. in the formation of delusions. We examine, instead, the top-down influence of pre-existing beliefs and affective factors in shaping an individual's characterisation of anomalous sensory experiences. Specifically we investigated the effects of paranormal beliefs and alexithymia in determining the intensity and quality of an altered state of consciousness (ASC). Fifty five participants took part in a sweat lodge ceremony, a traditional shamanic ritual which was unfamiliar to them. Participants reported significant alterations in their state of consciousness, quantified using the 'APZ' questionnaire, a standardized measure of ASC experience. Participants endorsing paranormal beliefs compatible with shamanic mythology, and those showing difficulty identifying feelings scored higher on positive dimensions of ASC experience. Our findings demonstrate that variation in an individual's characterisation of anomalous experiences is nuanced by pre-existing beliefs and affective factors.

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  • The alexithymia dimension 'difficulty identifying feelings' predicts the intensity of trance on two dimensions: 'oceanic boundlessness' and 'visionary restructuralization'.

    “More particularly, the results suggested that one of the dimensions of alexithymia (i.e., “difficulty identifying feelings”) predicts the intensity of trance on two dimensions (“oceanic boundlessness”, i.e., positive experiences of ego dissolution and loss of boundaries; and “visionary restructuralization”, i.e., hallucinations and illusions as well as changes in the meaning of objects) [3].”

    From Scoping review on shamanistic trances practices (2024) · cites this paper as [3]

  • Paranormal beliefs in the dimensions of psi, spiritualism, and precognition were positively correlated with ego dissolution scores.

    “paranormal beliefs in the dimensions of psi (e.g., mind reading is possible), spiritualism (e.g., when in altered states, such as sleep or trance, the spirit can leave the body), and precognition (e.g., dreams can provide information about the future) were positively correlated with ego dissolution scores.”

    From Scoping review on shamanistic trances practices (2024) · cites this paper as [3]

  • In 55 participants (80% first experiences) attending a sweat lodge ceremony led by a shaman, total altered state of consciousness score did not correlate with any preexisting paranormal belief scores.

    “Polito and colleagues [3] studied the beliefs of 55 participants (with 80% first experiences) attending a sweat lodge ceremony led by a shaman. If the total altered state of consciousness score did not correlate with any of the preexisting paranormal belief scores,”

    From Scoping review on shamanistic trances practices (2024) · cites this paper as [3]

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Authors
Polito, V., Langdon, R., & Brown, J.
Affiliations
Macquarie University (AU)
Corresponding author
Polito, Vince
ORCID
Venue
Consciousness and Cognition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-12
Volume
19
Issue
4
Pages
918-925
ISSN
1053-8100 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.concog.2010.05.013
OpenAlex
W2067187620
Cited by
31
References
72
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
0.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Consciousness and Cognition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Keywords
altered states of consciousness, shamanic rituals, supernatural beliefs, alexithymia, emotional factors, top-down processing, delusion formation
MeSH terms
Adult, Affect, Affective Symptoms, Ceremonial Behavior, Consciousness Disorders, Culture, Delusions, Depersonalization, Female, Humans, Individuality, Male, Middle Aged, New South Wales, Parapsychology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Religion and Psychology, Shamanism, Steam Bath, Young Adult

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