Psychedelics in the age of reproducibility: Reflections on aura, set and setting and the medicalization of mystical-type experiences.
Guy Simon, Nir Tadmor, Demian Halperin
International Journal of Drug Policy 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.105074 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy Mystical experience |
| Keywords | Medicalization Naturalistic psychedelic use Set and setting Therapeutic authenticity Walter benjamin's aura |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Argues that the medicalization of psychedelics risks losing their "aura" and transformative potential, and proposes integrating traditional context with clinical approaches to preserve it. |
Abstract
Psychedelics induce transformative experiences leading to lasting changes in attitudes and behaviour, with outcomes depending on both pharmacological factors and the context of the experience ('set and setting'), marking a paradigm shift in mental health treatment. As psychedelics transition from traditional contexts to clinical settings, tension emerges between authenticity and standardization. This article uses Walter Benjamin's concept of "aura" (The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction) to examine what may be lost or gained when psychedelic experiences are removed from original contexts and reproduced in institutional settings. We explore how set and setting contribute to authenticity, analyse medicalization's implications, examine the roles of ritual and commodification, and propose ways to integrate traditional context with clinical approaches to preserve psychedelics' transformative potential.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on mystical experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis | 1983 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Psychedelic Mystical Experience in the Human Encounter with Death | 1969 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Vectorial Cerebral Hemisphericity as Differential Sources for the Sensed Presence, Mystical Experiences and Religious Conversions | 1993 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The epistemic innocence of psychedelic states. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mystical Experience and Religious Doctrine | 1982 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Can LLMs Get High? A Dual-Metric Framework for Evaluating Psychedelic Simulation and Safety in Large Language Models Research Square February 2, 2026
- 'The only way out is through': The flexibility and limits of trauma discourse in psychedelic contexts. Social science & medicine (1982) October 10, 2026
- When Therapy Falls Short: A Qualitative Study of Psychotherapy After Challenging Psychedelic Experiences
Cites 54
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010
- Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 1, 2008
- Rediscovering the Later Version of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Self-Transcendence and Opportunities for Theory, Research, and Unification Review of General Psychology December 1, 2006
and 49 more in the library