Knowledge Tree
psychedelic instrumentalization
Also known as: psychedelic instrumentalization model
Facts (11)
Sources
Psychedelics, Sociality, and Human Evolution frontiersin.org 11 facts
claimThe authors of 'Psychedelics, Sociality, and Human Evolution' hypothesize that psychedelic instrumentalization had niche-constructing effects that aided in the creation and evolution of the socio-cognitive niche.
claimThe psychedelic instrumentalization model predicts that psilocybin and other serotonergic psychedelics can substitute for 5-HT (serotonin) under conditions of tryptophan depletion, potentially ameliorating costs associated with impaired serotonergic neural signaling, such as depressed mood, increased stress vulnerability, and cognitive inflexibility.
claimThe psychedelic instrumentalization model predicts that the administration of psilocybin should revert the deficits in cooperation observed in participants under conditions of tryptophan depletion.
claimThe psychedelic instrumentalization model hypothesizes that psychedelic use is primarily associated with specific functional contexts, including healing, social bonding, socialization, and decision-making rituals.
claimPsychedelic instrumentalization acted as an enabling factor in the development of the human socio-cognitive niche by mediating the expansion of ritual alterations of consciousness, healing, social bonding, and decision-making activities, which accelerated the spread of biological components of sociality, cognition, and communication skills in the human lineage.
claimThe psychedelic instrumentalization model proposes that psilocybin consumption by ancient humans had niche-constructing effects that imposed a systematic bias toward a socio-cognitive niche across the human evolutionary trajectory.
claimThe psychedelic instrumentalization model predicts that psychedelic use is more prevalent among foraging societies than among agricultural societies, as psychedelic use is considered an ancient behavior associated with shamanistic practices that tend to diminish as agriculture intensifies.
claimThe 'psychedelic instrumentalization' model proposes that early humans used psychedelics for four primary goals: managing psychological distress and health problems, enhancing social interaction, facilitating collective ritual and religious activities, and improving group decision-making.
claimPsychedelic instrumentalization can be modeled as an enabling factor in the hominization process, functioning as a socially learned and culturally evolved trait that assisted in constructing the socio-cognitive niche.
claimForagers primarily utilize psychedelics in shamanic rituals, indicating that a key aspect of psychedelic instrumentalization was their incorporation into prosocial contexts involving synchronic activities like ritual, drumming, dancing, and singing, which were precursors to shamanism.
accountJR presented the idea of psychedelic instrumentalization in the socio-cognitive niche in a manuscript sent to MW, and both authors contributed to all aspects of the final manuscript.