Phenomenological control as a predictor for mystical experience and persisting effects

Abstract

Altered states of consciousness can occur in various contexts, and may produce mystical experiences (Hitchcott et al., 2019; Vlisides et al., 2018). There is emerging evidence that such states can predict positive outcomes following psychedelic experiences (Griffiths et al., 2011), but the persisting effects of other altered states are unknown. Another underexplored area is the potential for individual difference characteristics to influence the ways people experience altered states. A new measure, the phenomenological control scale (Dienes et al., 2020), quantifies the capacity of individuals to shape their perceptual experience. As altered states are characterised by considerable changes in perception and cognition, understanding the role that phenomenological control might have in shaping these experience will help to understand the mechanisms that govern any lasting effects from these states. Therefore, this project will examine the influence of phenomenological control across a range of altered states of consciousness, and the potential of these states for mystical experience and persisting effect