American Psychologist
January 1, 2006
Roger Walsh, Shauna L. Shapiro
686 citations
Meditation is a widely practiced and researched psychotherapeutic method, but its integration with Western psychology has been hindered by misunderstandings that overlook the richness of meditative traditions and their underlying psychologies and philosophies. These traditions offer valuable insights into cognition, attention, mental training, health, pathology, and human potentials. Approaching meditative traditions with greater cultural and conceptual sensitivity could lead to mutual enrichment, benefiting both meditative practices and Western psychology.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
June 1, 1992
Mitchell B. Liester, Charles S. Grob, Gary Bravo et al.
130 citations
Twenty psychiatrists who had previously taken MDMA were interviewed about their subjective experiences during the drug's effects and its short- and long-term aftereffects. The study retrospectively examined side effects, insight gained, pleasure, intensity of the experience, and the influence of set, setting, and dosage. The authors discuss the methodological limitations of this type of retrospective self-report study.
PLoS One
November 7, 2018
Cassandra Vieten, Helané Wahbeh, B Rael Cahn et al.
124 citations
A survey of 1120 meditators found that most report having had anomalous and extraordinary experiences during meditation, such as mystical, transpersonal, or difficult phenomena. While meditation research has largely focused on clinical effectiveness and neural correlates, these less-studied experiences may be crucial for psychological and spiritual development, act as mediators of meditation's benefits, or be important outcomes themselves. A task force of researchers and teachers developed recommendations to expand research into these areas, which represent largely uncharted scientific terrain suitable for rigorous investigation.
The Humanistic Psychologist
January 1, 2003
Shauna L. Shapiro, Roger Walsh
111 citations
Meditation research over the past 40 years has shown changes in psychological, physiological, and transpersonal domains. This paper reviews those findings and suggests that future research should move beyond a reductionistic, biomedical model to include subjective, transpersonal, and integral perspectives.
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies
January 1, 2003
Roger Walsh
36 citations
After four decades of debate, the question of whether psychedelics can produce genuine mystical experiences remains unresolved. This paper reviews objections to that possibility and finds them all flawed. A major reason for the ongoing disagreement is the lack of an adequate theory linking mystical states to their causes. The author proposes a theory based on Charles Tart’s systems model of consciousness, explaining how identical states can arise from different methods—such as meditation or chemicals—yet lead to different after-effects. The cautious conclusion is that some psychedelics can sometimes induce genuine mystical experiences in some people, making the term entheogens possibly appropriate.
Journal of Humanistic Psychology
April 1, 2004
Huston Smith, Charles S. Grob, Robert L. Jesse et al.
29 citations
Huston Smith revisits his influential article on whether drugs have religious import. Drawing on personal experience, he discusses how psychedelic experiences have shaped religious traditions and contemplative practices, citing the ancient Vedic tradition, the Eleusinian mysteries, and the contemporary Native American Church. He reflects on why the 1960s psychedelic movement failed to produce lasting social change, critiques current drug policy and culture, and emphasizes the role of elders in society.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
June 1, 1992
Charles S. Grob, Gary Bravo, Roger Walsh et al.
21 citations
MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) can cause lasting damage to serotonin neurons in the brain, raising concerns about its safety for both recreational and therapeutic use. The authors review evidence from animal studies showing that MDMA produces dose-dependent serotonergic neurotoxicity, and they discuss the implications for humans who use the drug. They note that while some studies suggest potential therapeutic benefits for MDMA in psychotherapy, the neurotoxic risks must be carefully weighed. The paper emphasizes the need for further research to clarify the extent of neurotoxicity in humans and to establish safe guidelines for any medical applications.
Journal of Humanistic Psychology
October 1, 2006
Roger Walsh, Charles S. Grob
18 citations
Before psychedelic research was legally halted, over 1,000 clinical reports documented a wide range of psychological effects and therapeutic possibilities, with implications for psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, anthropology, sociology, and religious studies. Findings included insights into states of consciousness, the unconscious, motivation, self-actualization, spirituality, and psychotherapy. Because further human studies became virtually impossible, surviving original investigators were convened and interviewed to capture an oral history of their research. This article summarizes their conclusions, the psychological and social implications of their work, and its impact on diverse academic disciplines.
Psychology of Consciousness Theory Research and Practice
June 12, 2025
Etzel Cardeña, Aviva Berkovich-Ohana, Katja Valli et al.
11 citations
A multidisciplinary, international group used taxonomic principles and a modified Delphi method to create a taxonomy of altered states of consciousness based on central phenomenological features. They identified eight distinct states, some with subcategories: proto and transitional, delirium, minimal to no awareness, experiential detachment, enhanced physicality, altered identity, imaginary/fantasy/visionary, and unity/mystical. The authors hope this taxonomy will foster conceptual clarity and stimulate research across specializations, helping reveal what is common and different across triggers and antecedents of altered states, and encouraging phenomenological, psychological, cultural, and neuroscientific understanding.
Journal of Humanistic Psychology
January 1, 1992
Roger Walsh
Transpersonal psychology emerged to study experiences that extend beyond the conventional boundaries of the self, such as spiritual or altered states. The field now explores full-spectrum models of human development that include transconventional stages, possible integrations among different psychological schools, new understandings of contemplative practices and altered states of consciousness, and research on meditation. The article also examines current limitations and problems facing transpersonal psychology.