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Paper short abstract

Psychedelic experiences (PEs) influence our perception of ourselves and the World. We investigate how different aspects of the Self are expressed in personal accounts of PEs, using the PENS dataset and applying a hybrid approach combining qualitative analysis and natural language processing.

Paper long abstract

Psychedelic experiences (PEs) can deeply influence the perception we have of ourselves and the world around us. Previous research has shown the study of such episodes to be effective for investigating the nature of, and the connection between, selfhood and environment. In everyday experience, Self and World are typically experienced as distinct. The Self is often understood as a coherent construct composed of various interrelated aspects, such as the perception of our body, a sense of agency, a sense of identification, and the narrative Self.

During PEs, the Self–World boundaries may dissolve. Participants report experiences of dissolution (e.g., Self-loss, Self-expansion) and/or ecological intimacy, especially when the experience unfolds in natural settings or involves personally foraged substances. These practices emerge as forms of living heritage, transmitted through embodied and word-of-mouth traditions. Such experiences often evoke sensory and narrative engagements with the more-than-human world, with their associated traditions as spaces for identity-building, and are even referred to as 'rites of passage', in some participants' narratives.

This exploratory study investigates how different aspects of the Self are expressed in personal stories of PEs. We use the PENS dataset, which comprises narrative responses about PEs from 185 residents of Scotland. These narratives reveal diverse themes, from connection with community, land, and inherited foraging practices to the perceived dissolution of personal boundaries. A hybrid approach combining qualitative analysis and natural language processing supports the identification of recurring aspects of the Self across subjective, ecological, and heritage-related dimensions.