Cited by 226Psychedelics and Drug StudiesParanormal Experiences and BeliefsReligion, Spirituality, and Psychology

Psychedelics, personality and political perspectives.

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Nour, Matthew M., Evans, Lisa, Carhart-Harris, Robin L.·2017·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs

Abstract

The psychedelic experience (including psychedelic-induced ego dissolution) can effect lasting change in a person's attitudes and beliefs. Here, we aimed to investigate the association between naturalistic psychedelic use and personality, political perspectives, and nature relatedness using an anonymous internet survey. Participants (N = 893) provided information about their naturalistic psychedelic, cocaine, and alcohol use, and answered questions relating to personality traits of openness and conscientiousness (Ten-Item Personality Inventory), nature relatedness (Nature-Relatedness Scale), and political attitudes (one-item liberalism-conservatism measure and five-item libertarian-authoritarian measure). Participants also rated the degree of ego dissolution experienced during their "most intense" recalled psychedelic experience (Ego-Dissolution Inventory). Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that lifetime psychedelic use (but not lifetime cocaine use or weekly alcohol consumption) positively predicted liberal political views, openness and nature relatedness, and negatively predicted authoritarian political views, after accounting for potential confounding variables. Ego dissolution experienced during a participant's "most intense" psychedelic experience positively predicted liberal political views, openness and nature relatedness, and negatively predicted authoritarian political views. Further work is needed to investigate the nature of the relationship between the peak psychedelic experience and openness to new experiences, egalitarian political views, and concern for the environment.

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Crossref · 10.1080/02791072.2017.1312643

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  • Ingestion of a psychedelic drug can induce rapid and persisting changes in personality traits, particularly reductions in neuroticism, in both healthy and clinical populations.

    “It has been repeatedly found that ingestion of a psychedelic drug can induce rapid and persisting changes in personality traits, and particularly reductions in neuroticism, in both healthy and clinical populations (24, 35–41).”

    From Decreases in State and Trait Anxiety Post-psilocybin: A Naturalistic, Observational Study Among Retreat Attendees (2022) · cites this paper as [40]

    The Introduction (page not provided) reports that a single dose of psilocybin or LSD may increase openness, sometimes for many months. The paper does not report reductions in neuroticism or rapid, persisting personality changes in clinical populations; its discussion of clinical studies concerns symptoms of anxiety, depression, and addiction. (LLM, conf=0.89)

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Leary, T., Metzner, R., & Alpert, R. (1964). The Psychedelic Experience: Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead. London: Penguin Classics.
  2. Rucker, J. J. H. (2015). Psychedelic drugs should be legally reclassified so that researchers can investigate their therapeutic potential. BMJ, 350. doi:10.1136/bmj. · DOI
  3. Sessa, B. (2012). The psychedelic renaissance. London: Muswell Hill Press.
  4. Unger, S. M. (1963). Mescaline, LSD, psilocybin, and personality change. Psychiatry: Journal for the Study of Interpersonal Processes, 26(2), 111-125.

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Authors
Nour, M. M., Evans, L., & Carhart-Harris, R. L.
Affiliations
  • King's College London (GB)
  • Imperial College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Nour, Matthew M.
Venue
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
Published
2017-04-26
Volume
49
Issue
3
Pages
182-191
ISSN
  • 0279-1072 (ISSN-L)
  • 2159-9777
OpenAlex
W2608583841
Cited by
226
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 54 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 3
FWCI
24.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Mosley Foundation (N/A)
  • National Institute for Health Research (N/A)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Keywords
psychedelics, naturalistic psychedelic use, ego dissolution, personality, political attitudes, liberalism, authoritarianism, openness to experience, conscientiousness, nature relatedness, cocaine use, alcohol consumption
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Hallucinogens, Humans, Male, Personality, Politics, Young Adult

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