Rethinking the Significance of Altered States of Consciousness (Through the Cases of Psychological Anthropology)

Abstract

The article discusses the role of altered states of consciousness (ASC) in different cultures. The author draws on Erika Bourguignon’s arguments on the close connection between individual’s bodily functioning and mental processes in ASC, as well as on viewing the human being as a “psychobiologi-cal system in a cultural context”. He further examines “lighter” ASC, that is “soft” ecstatic states akin to Maslow’s “higher order experiences”. He points attention to the importance of “psychobiological synchronization” as an effect of ASC on both the interpersonal and organic levels of interaction.