- Participants experienced enhanced state authenticity on microdosing days and the following day, indicating a residual effect of microdosing.
- The connection between mood and state authenticity was not as strong as anticipated; the effects of microdosing persisted regardless of mood fluctuations.
- Engagement in a greater number of activities and higher satisfaction with those activities on microdosing days were significant contributors to the observed increase in state authenticity.
Importance of Authenticity
The researchers highlight the significance of authenticity in relation to health and wellbeing. They explain authenticity as the alignment between one’s thoughts, feelings, and external behaviors. Distinctively, trait authenticity is viewed as a stable individual characteristic, while state authenticity can fluctuate based on circumstances and is characterized by an individual’s feeling of being true to themselves at any given moment.
Microdosing: A Brief Overview
This study investigates the relationship between state authenticity and microdosing psychedelics, which involves taking very small doses of substances like LSD or psilocybin that do not produce noticeable perceptual effects. The authors postulate that microdosing may elevate state authenticity by affecting participants’ moods and their involvement in daily tasks, as well as the satisfaction derived from those tasks.
Current Research on Microdosing
The authors review existing qualitative studies that suggest a relationship between microdosing and authentic self-expressions. Many participants from these studies have noted that microdosing assisted them in gaining insight into their true selves or helped them confront their values and priorities. Notably, one participant described their experience of microdosing as pivotal for becoming vulnerable and understanding their authentic self. However, the prior research has not explicitly quantified the relationship between microdosing and state authenticity, which this study aims to address through a more structured quantitative analysis.
Mechanisms Behind Microdosing Effects
Emotional Influence on Authenticity
The researchers suggest that microdosing may elevate state authenticity by enhancing mood. They reference past studies linking state authenticity to emotional valence, where positive moods correlate with higher authenticity ratings. While some microdosing research indicates improvements in mood, findings have been inconsistent across different studies.
Value-Driven Actions
Additionally, the authors propose that engagement in activities that align with personal values may enhance state authenticity. Many individuals approaching microdosing view it as part of a broader self-improvement journey. Qualitative studies have reported that those who microdose show increased motivation towards healthier routines and more commitment to activities that matter to them. The researchers hypothesize that participants will undertake a greater variety and more satisfying activities on days when they microdose, leading to improved feelings of authenticity.
Study Methodology
Data Collection Process
Data was gathered from 18 participants over a month-long period, amounting to 192 total examination days. Participants were required to have an active microdosing practice. The onset of data collection occurred in two phases due to the COVID-19 pandemic, starting in February 2020 and resuming in May 2020.
Measurement Techniques
State authenticity was quantified using the Real-Self Overlap Scale, where participants identified which diagram most accurately represented their connection to their “real self” for the day. Participants recorded whether they had microdosed either that day, the previous day, or within the preceding two days. Their engagement in activities (like meditation, exercise, or work) and satisfaction with those activities were also documented. Mood assessments involved participants reporting their feelings five times throughout the day.
Findings from the Analysis
The data analysis revealed several critical insights about the effects of microdosing. Firstly, it was observed that state authenticity was greater on days when participants microdosed, with a heightened effect felt on the actual microdosing day compared to the following day. The researchers found that while negative moods correlated with lower state authenticity, the positive outcomes of microdosing were evident regardless of mood changes. Moreover, participants engaged in a larger variety of activities and reported higher satisfaction with them on microdosing days. The results indicate that the heightened state authenticity linked to microdosing might stem more from the engagement in fulfilling activities rather than purely due to mood enhancement.
Read the full paper summary on Blossom.
