How to Change Minds Ethically: Doxastic Vulnerability, Epistemic Harm Reduction, and the Role of Therapists in Psychedelic Therapy
Christoph Bublitz
Journal of Applied Philosophy October 24, 2025 DOI: 10.1111/japp.70053 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Doxastic logic Skepticism Harm Certainty Vulnerability computing Psychological intervention Power physics Epistemology Position finance |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key points | Argues that psychedelic-induced belief changes warrant a skeptical attitude and that therapists should adopt a more active epistemic role rather than a passive non-directive stance. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT Psychedelics offer an intriguing novel method for changing minds, supposedly by destabilizing the neurobiology of the belief system. The resulting power to change minds raises ethical and epistemic concerns. This article examines the epistemic status of psychedelic experiences and suggests a skeptical attitude towards beliefs formed under their influence, a position that stands in contrast to some epistemic practices in the field. It proposes four norms for the ethics of altering beliefs and opinions of others, based on both the outcomes of interventions and the processes they involve. It introduces the concept of ‘doxastic vulnerability’ for states of heightened susceptibility to belief change, such as those induced by psychedelics. It further argues that placing people in a state of doxastic vulnerability generates responsibilities to prevent or mitigate harms arising from such states. This should motivate epistemic harm reduction measures in psychedelic therapy and, contrary to several recent statements in the literature, a reconsideration of a passive non‐directive stance of therapists in favor of a more active role as epistemic guides.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Learning to Let Go: A Cognitive-Behavioral Model of How Psychedelic Therapy Promotes Acceptance | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Awe: a putative mechanism underlying the effects of classic psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy | 2018 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ethical and legal issues in psychedelic harm reduction and integration therapy | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Towards psychedelic apprenticeship: Developing a gentle touch for the mediation and validation of psychedelic-induced insights and revelations. | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 38
- REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics Pharmacological Reviews June 20, 2019
- Mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later Journal of Psychopharmacology May 30, 2008
- The antipodes Of the mind November 7, 2002
- Psychedelics alter metaphysical beliefs. Scientific Reports November 23, 2021
- Development of the Psychological Insight Questionnaire among a sample of people who have consumed psilocybin or LSD Journal of Psychopharmacology January 9, 2021
and 33 more in the library