7. Altered states of consciousness
Consciousness: A Very Short Introduction September 14, 2017 DOI: 10.1093/actrade/9780198794738.003.0007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Citations | 18 |
| Key points | Argues that defining an altered state of consciousness raises problems about what constitutes a 'normal' state, and that both mystical experiences and long-term meditation involve descriptions of seeing through illusions of duality. |
Abstract
‘Altered states of consciousness’ discusses the states of consciousness during sleep, dreaming, hallucinations, out-of-body experiences, near-death experiences, meditation, and after taking psychoactive drugs. Psychologist Charles Tart defines an altered state of consciousness (ASC) as ‘a qualitative alteration in the overall pattern of mental functioning, such that the experiencer feels his consciousness is radically different from the way it functions ordinarily’. This certainly captures the idea of ASCs, but also creates problems, such as knowing what a ‘normal’ state is. In both mystical experiences and long-term meditation, people describe seeing through the illusions of duality and seeing the world as it truly is.