David Yaden || The Science of Self-Transcendent Experiences

The Psychology Podcast

Today it’s great to have David Yaden on the podcast. Dr. Yaden is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins Medicine. His research focus is on the psychology, neuroscience, and pharmacology of transformative and self-transcendent experiences. He is currently focusing on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. His scientific and scholarly work has been covered by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, and NPR.

In this episode we discuss:

• The applicability of self-transcendent experiences to the current moment
• The definition of self-transcendent experiences
• Andrew Newberg’s pioneering work on the neuroscience of self-transcendent experiences
• Abraham Maslow’s role in the history of the scientific investigation of self-transcendent experiences
• The “everyperson’s spiritual experience”
• The two main components of awe
• The main characteristics of awe
• Awe vs. flow
• The role of technology in triggering self-transcendent experiences
• The triggers of self-transcendent experiences
• The limitations of interventions to induce self-transcendent experiences
• How we can seek out little moments of awe, gratitude, and mindfulness
• How psilocybin can induce very intense self-transcendent experiences
• The potential for psychedelic therapy sessions
• The neuroscience underlying the therapeutic benefit of psychedelics
• How psychedelic experiences can impact our connection with close others
• David’s personal self-transendent experience
• Davis’ interest in studying intense interventions
• David’s study of the philosophy of psychology

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