This survey (n=185) of an international Jewish sample with psychedelic experience explores the association between attachment-related variables and psychedelic experiences. Findings suggest that perceptions of an insecure attachment history are positively linked to various measures of psychedelic phenomenology, while adult attachment orientations show no significant relationship. Moreover, psychedelic experiences do not typically moderate the association between perceived insecure attachment history and present attachment insecurity.
Abstract of Perceived attachment history predicts psychedelic experiences: A naturalistic study
“Background and aims: Emerging research indicates that psychedelics may have therapeutic potential by fostering meaningful experiences that act as “inflection points” in people’s narratives of personal development. However, psychedelic research has largely failed to address pertinent developmental considerations. We investigated whether attachment-related variables were associated with psychedelic experiences and whether psychedelic experiences moderated expected links between perceived attachment history and current adult attachment orientations.
Methods: We administered an online survey to an international Jewish sample (N = 185) with psychedelic experience. The survey included measures about recollection of attachment interactions with parents (perceived attachment history), adult attachment orientations (anxiety, avoidance), and psychedelic phenomenology (mystical experiences, challenging experiences, emotional breakthrough, ego dissolution, sensed presence) associated with respondents’ most memorable psychedelic experiences.
Results: Perceptions of an insecure attachment history were positively linked to all measures of psychedelic phenomenology (r’s = 0.19–32, p’s mostly < 0.01). In contrast, adult attachment orientations were unrelated to psychedelic phenomenology. Also, psychedelic phenomenology mostly did not moderate the links observed between perceptions of an insecure attachment history and adult attachment orientations.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that perceptions of early attachment experiences may be relevant to psychedelic phenomenology. However, subjective experiences associated with naturalistic psychedelic use do not typically attenuate links between a perceived insecure attachment history and attachment insecurity at present.”
Authors: Aaron D. Cherniak, Mario Mikulincer, Joel Gruneau Brulin & Pehr Granqvist
Summary of Perceived attachment history predicts psychedelic experiences: A naturalistic study
Introduction
Psychedelics have been an area of increased scientific research in clinical trials and naturalistic use due to their therapeutic potential and risks. However, virtually no research has been conducted on developmental factors associated with psychedelics, which is particularly striking given that participants frequently rate therapeutically supported psychedelic sessions among the most meaningful experiences of their lives.
Attachment theory and research
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Perceived attachment history predicts psychedelic experiences: A naturalistic study
https://doi.org/10.1556/2054.2024.00330
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Cite this paper (APA)
Cherniak, A. D., Mikulincer, M., Gruneau Brulin, J., & Granqvist, P. (2024). Perceived attachment history predicts psychedelic experiences: A naturalistic study. Journal of Psychedelic Studies.