rolleyes. In fact, psychedelics have made me realize I am, in fact, "god" (I use that term only in the sense of "god" being the universe itself). But for me, that realization is shared with the fact that we ALL are "god". And hence, we're all equally worthy of respect and consideration, we're all equally special. Putting myself above anyone else would be hurting me, hurting us all. But a narcissist or sociopath would probably interpret that sort of realization as "I am god, all the rest of you are nothing, I'm the most amazing thing in the universe, worship me".I think it depends on how cemented their behaviour is. After all, no behaviour is concrete and without change. We know behaviour because we can differentiate it and because we can, that means its not fixed. Narcissism is not a fixed condition. Its the product of years of coping mechanisms that culminate in patterns of behaviour that we consider to be narcissistic. At one point that person was not narcissistic but they became so in order to cope with particular environmental stresses which threatened them in a way they developed a sense of self to cope with those stresses to protect themselves from being destroyed. One which we know is not congruent with who they are, hence the narcissism and the superficiality, grandiosity etc they project. They learned to navigate the world by putting on a facade. This can be undone.I think psychedelics tend to just bring out what is inside people. Most people want to be good people and most people have empathy for others. So psychedelics will tend to bring that out... they will tend to realize flaws in themselves, which can lead to personal changes and improvements. However, if someone lacks the ability to empathize, they aren't going to magically gain that ability from psychedelics. If someone is a narcissist, they will only have that strengthened as they realize the true depths of their amazingness
Or maybe they've just not been exposed to life events that allowed for their defense mechanisms to be broken down enough? I always believe the best treatment for these conditions is a solid restructuring of their sense of self that comes from a situation in life that is so profound it pushes them to see the fatal flaws in who they are. I mean, relationships could be one example. Falling in love or experiencing something that rocks you to your core. Having a child could be another. Experiencing something that significantly impacts the fabric of the persons sense of self to the point where they have to explore why it impacted them in the first place. I agree though, you have to be open to that happening and that would be entirely down to the life history, perceptions and trajectory in life of that individual. Some people wake up to their own bullshit because, whether they realize it or not, they are on a path to do so. And some people don't.I've noticed that narcissists seem to become more direct but still retain their narcissism on psychedelics. In fact, psychedelics usually amplify their narcissism significantly. Seems like you need to want psychedelics to change you in order for them to do so.
Or maybe they just didn't take enough
Based on experience with my father, getting married and having a child is definitely not enough to get someone to stop being a narcissist. It certainly could be enough to get regular people to examine narcissistic tendencies in themselves. But having some narcissistic tendencies and being a full-blown narcissist are two very different things.
I have known people who have narcissistic personality disorder and after they take psychedelics they become even more manipulative, and their narcissism increases.I've noticed that narcissists seem to become more direct but still retain their narcissism on psychedelics. In fact, psychedelics usually amplify their narcissism significantly. Seems like you need to want psychedelics to change you in order for them to do so.
Or maybe they just didn't take enough
I can relate to that. Some of my family have narcissistic and sociopathic traits. Any positive changes in their life didn't illicit a change on a deeper level. If anything it maybe even made them worse.
That is always the risk of taking psychedelics when their personality structure is on the extreme end. And that's also the risk with taking high dose psychedelics anyway. It can be very easy to believe you've experienced something so profound that you are among a select few gifted to experience it. I think everybody perceives themselves who has taken psychedelics as believing they have something more than the average person because of their experiences. Otherwise, why would we put so much emphasis on them? Terence McKenna talked about this a few times saying that why are people taking psychedelics if not to reach a state that others haven't before and so what does that imply? He postulated it implies a certain level of superiority among the average population. And in a way, he's right. I don't think I've ever met someone with enough experience with psychedelics who doesn't, even if only to a certain degree, believe they are more superior or advanced than those who haven't awoken to their conditioning and managed to unlock answers to their own questions and predicaments.
The truth though, just with the self for these unfortunate type people will be too confronting.
Lol sounds like my Dad too. Also he's not a stranger to LSD and other psychedelics either, and he's still a narcissist. Love my Dad, he has many amazing qualities, but he is also a narcissist.
LSD or not, 54 hours split over 3 occasions is certainly not enough time to truly get to know somebody.
I think this may be right, As someone who enjoys the occasional tab I have noticed that it tends to bring out my inner nihilistic and self loathing towards the end of any given trip and tends to make me focus on what I can improve on, the whole idea of a part of the universe/god thing is far from my experience but being both nihilist and atheistic they are not terms I would use.I think psychedelics tend to just bring out what is inside people. Most people want to be good people and most people have empathy for others. So psychedelics will tend to bring that out... they will tend to realize flaws in themselves, which can lead to personal changes and improvements. However, if someone lacks the ability to empathize, they aren't going to magically gain that ability from psychedelics. If someone is a narcissist, they will only have that strengthened as they realize the true depths of their amazingness
I agree. But all that time tripping you can start to really believe you do.
Yeah, with how time seems a little wonky on some of them some of the time it can feel like a much longer period has passed too but making life choices while tripping is probably not a smart play.
I strongly agree. Psychedelic insights can play a role in your decisions and help you make a jump you were already considering, but they can make you feel far closer to someone than you actually are.
Ppl that lie are not Just to be called psychopaths, ppl lie for many reasons, out of insecurity, to not Hurt someone,...