Comparing the detection of endogenous psychedelics in individuals with and without alleged mediumistic experiences

In most Western societies, when a person has anomalous sensorial experiences and behaviors, this is usually interpreted as a sign of mental disease. However, in some cultures, these experiences may be interpreted as a spiritual connection or a “spirit” communication. The prevailing scientific interpretation of the external “communicating spirits” is that they are fragments of the individual`s own inner conflicts.1 In line with this view, some researchers propose that mediums would be individuals with an intrinsic proclivity to som atization and to dissociation that find in a religious system a way for a positive transformation of their identities, which would consist in a cognitive coping strategy.

Source: Explore - August 22, 2018 Category: Nursing Authors: Marco Aur élio Vinhosa Bastos, Paulo Roberto Haidamus Oliveira Bastos, Maria Lucília Santos, Décio Iandoli, Renata Boschi Portella, Giancarlo Lucchetti Tags: Brief Report Source Type: research