Occurrence of Altered States of Consciousness among Students: Profoundly and Superficially Altered States in Wakefulness

1993 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej Kokoszka
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Integrated Model ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
The Other ◽  
Altered States ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Natural Tendency ◽  
Cognitive Disturbances

In a questionnaire survey waking altered states of consciousness (ASC) are found to be common among 174 Polish students. The experience of Superficially Altered States of Consciousness (SACS) was reported by 96 percent of subjects and more than half of them had such experiences often. Whereas an experience of Profoundly Altered States of Consciousness (PASC) was confirmed by 75 percent and about one-third of them had them often. The comparison of the experiences accompanying the ASC indicates that SASC are characterized by disturbances in experiencing the reality and oneself combined with positive, pleasant feelings and with quietness. On the other hand, PASC are accompanied by experiences related to an absolute, universal, eternal, and existential or religious matters. PASC are accompanied by extremely strong positive emotions of happiness, total love, etc. and are experienced as more rational than SASC, and with significantly less feelings of cognitive disturbances than in SASC. The comparison of circumstances of the ASC occurrence, indicates that SASC occur in usual and common states and situation of everyday life, whereas PASC mainly in the context of religion and nature. The congruence of these findings with an integrated model of the main states of consciousness suggests a natural tendency for a cyclical occurence of ASC, or more precisely, the differentiated waking states of consciousness.

Body-Mind Dissociation, Altered States, and Alter Worlds

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 769-806
Author(s):  
Peter Goldberg
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
The Body ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
States Of Mind ◽  
Body Experience ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Life Of The Mind ◽  
The Mind

A psychosomatic model of dissociation is proposed that addresses the ever adjusting mind-body relation—the constant titration of the quality and degree of the psyche’s embeddedness in the sensorial and temporal life of the body. The model highlights the function of hypnoid mechanisms (autohypnosis, distraction, somatic autostimulation) and of altered states of consciousness in facilitating and masking the work of mind-body dissociation. Transient altered states, which enable new and creative forms of mind-body experience in everyday life and in the therapy situation, are contrasted with pathological forms of retreat into alter worlds—rigidly organized, timeless, often inescapable trancelike states of mind-body dislocation. These pathological dissociative structures reshape the life of the mind and of the body, requiring new clinical approaches to these phenomena.

scholarly journals Altered States of Consciousness and Charismatic Authority

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-22
Author(s):  
Olav Hammer ◽  
Karen Swartz
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
The Other ◽  
Altered States ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Charismatic Authority

Charisma is an unstable basis upon which to build authority. Charismatic leaders need their followers to perceive them as being endowed with extraordinary, even supernatural, gifts. Detractors can in turn question whether the leader actually possesses these unique qualities. Using Judith von Halle and her conflicts with the Anthroposophical Society as a case study, we address the question of how charismatic authority can be constructed and deconstructed in polemical texts. At various points throughout her career, Von Halle has made extraordinary claims. She presents herself as being clairvoyant and as having received stigmata. Anthroposophists who believe these claims cite them as their reasons for regarding her doctrinal statements as being trustworthy. Skeptical Anthroposophists, on the other hand, question her experiences and motives. Using a theoretical framework inspired by Foucault and Bourdieu, we discuss how both camps discuss von Halle’s charismatic status in terms that are opaque to outsiders unfamiliar with Anthroposophical discourse.

scholarly journals The Ritual Play and Altered States of Consciousness: the psychophysical processes in actor creation work

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leônidas Oliveira Neto ◽  
Robson Carlos Haderchpek
Keyword(s):  
Performing Arts ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
The Other ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Laboratory Practice ◽  
Creative Processes ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Cerebral Physiology ◽  
Bibliographic Study

ABSTRACT This article discusses the psychophysical processes of the actor from a laboratory practice developed with the Arkhétypos Group. The exposition presented is the result of the meeting of two researchers, one from the Performing Arts area and the other from Physiology, generating an interdisciplinary discussion about the Ritual Theater. This article analyzes two creative processes experienced by the authors and proposes an approximation with the theory of transient hypofrontality. The methodological approach is based on the anecdotal evidence and a rigorous bibliographic study. The partial results of the research help us understand what happens to the cerebral physiology of the actor who enters the ritual play.

scholarly journals Ecstasy research in the 20th century – an introduction

1982 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Holm
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
The Other ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Field Of Study ◽  
Similar Tendency ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Vast Area ◽  
Technical Terms

Scholars have always been interested in distinctive phenomena in culture and religion. Thus the accounts and achievements of yogis and mystics received attention at an early stage. There is a similar tendency with shamans, different kinds of sorcerers and with the "group-hysterical" phenomena that have appeared from time to time. There is, on the other hand, no major collection of research contributions on all the phenomena belonging to this field. Before proceeding to discuss some of the research produced over this vast area, some of the technical terms and concepts current in this field of study need to be introduced: ecstasy, trance, mysticism, possession, and altered states of consciousness.

Sadomasochism as a path to altered states of consciousness

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Ambler ◽  
Ellen M. Lee ◽  
Kathryn R. Klement ◽  
Tonio Loewald ◽  
Brad J. Sagarin
Keyword(s):  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
States Of Consciousness

Virtual Unreality

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Weinel
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Video Games ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Interactive Video ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Visual Systems

This chapter explores altered states of consciousness in interactive video games and virtual reality applications. First, a brief overview of advances in the sound and graphics of video games is provided, which has led to ever-more immersive capabilities within the medium. Following this, a variety of games that represent states of intoxication, drug use, and hallucinations are discussed, in order to reveal how these states are portrayed with the aid of sound and music, and for what purpose. An alternative trajectory in games is also explored, as various synaesthetic titles are reviewed, which provide high-adrenaline experiences for ravers, and simulate dreams, meditation, or psychedelic states. Through the analysis of these, and building upon the previous chapters of Inner Sound, this chapter presents a conceptual model for ‘Altered States of Consciousness Simulations’: interactive audio-visual systems that represent altered states with regards to the sensory components of the experience.

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