Set and Setting

The concept of set and setting is fundamental to psychedelic research and refers to the psychological and environmental factors that influence an individual's experience during a psychedelic session. "Set" pertains to a person's mindset, including their expectations, emotional state, and personal beliefs, while "setting" refers to the physical and social environment in which the experience takes place. These factors play a crucial role in determining the outcome of a psychedelic experience, as they can significantly impact the user's perceptions, emotions, and reactions.

Notes

Researchers and therapists emphasize the importance of carefully preparing one's set and setting to ensure a safe and potentially therapeutic psychedelic journey.

While considering the appropriate therapeutic dosage levels for psychedelic compounds, Fisher notes that dosage is not a crucial factor in determining the quality and direction of psychedelic experience. On the contrary, Fisher cites the openness of the individual to self-exposure, the willingness to learn, the ability to rise above egoic boundaries, the person's self esteem, the person's ability to trust the setting and individuals who are acting as guides, and "many more" factors as crucial in determining the type of experience an individual is likely to receive.

Footnotes

References