Altered States of Consciousness
Archives of General Psychiatry September 1, 1966 DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.1966.01730150001001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Keywords | Altered state Consciousness Depersonalization Dream Realm Hypnosis Cognitive psychology Clinical psychology Emotional exhaustion |
| Citations | 640 |
| Key points | Proposes that current knowledge on altered states of consciousness should be organized into a consistent theoretical system to understand their emergence, manifestations, commonalities, and functions. |
Abstract
BENEATH man's thin veneer of consciousness lies a relatively uncharted realm of mental activity, the nature and function of which have been neither systematically explored nor adequately conceptualized. Despite numerous clinical and research reports on daydreaming, sleep and dream states, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, hysterical states of dissociation and depersonalization, pharmacologically induced mental aberrations, and so on, there has been little attempt made to organize this scattered information into a consistent theoretical system. It is my present intention to integrate and discuss current knowledge regarding various altered states of consciousness in an effort to determine (a) the conditions necessary for their emergence, (b) the factors which influence their outward manifestations, (c) their relatedness and/or common denominators, and (d) the adaptive or maladaptive functions which these states may serve for man. For the purpose of discussion, I shall regard "altered state(s) of consciousness" [hereafter referred