-
1 week ago | 
psychologytoday.com | Joe Pierre M.D |Abigail Fagan
Source: Cottonbro Studio / Pexels"Commerce is our goal here... More human than human is our motto." —Eldon Tyrell, Bladerunner (1982)Over the past several years, the hype over artificial intelligence (AI) has reached fever pitch, driving both rabid investment in and the development of new consumer products.
-
2 weeks ago | 
psychologytoday.com | Joe Pierre M.D |Abigail Fagan
Source: Jan Vašek / Pixabay The term “artificial intelligence (AI) hallucinations” refers to a phenomenon in which an AI algorithms “perceive patterns or objects that are nonexistent or imperceptible to human observers, creating outputs that are nonsensical or altogether inaccurate.”1 Although they can occur in computers that “see” with a camera or “hear” with a microphone so that they bear some resemblance to the kinds of perceptual hallucinations like voice-hearing that occurs in people...
-
2 weeks ago | 
psychologytoday.com | Joe Pierre M.D |Abigail Fagan
Source: Jan Vašek / Pixabay The term “artificial intelligence (AI) hallucinations” refers to a phenomenon in which an AI algorithms “perceive patterns or objects that are nonexistent or imperceptible to human observers, creating outputs that are nonsensical or altogether inaccurate.”1 Although they can occur in computers that “see” with a camera or “hear” with a microphone so that they bear some resemblance to the kinds of perceptual hallucinations like voice-hearing that occurs in people...
-
Oct 31, 2024 | 
psychologytoday.com | Joe Pierre M.D
Some users report fear, depression, and paranoia as well as "existential struggles" and fear of the afterlife. Sexual misconduct in the setting of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is also a risk. A better understanding of adverse events is warranted before psychedelics are approved as medicines.
-
Oct 31, 2024 | 
qoshe.com | Joe Pierre M.D
Aa Aa Aa - A + In my previous two blog posts, I wrote about the ability of psychedelics to act as “entheogens” that can sometimes lead people to greater belief in God through encounters with divine entities and other profoundly meaningful experiences, while questioning whether such experiences are truly revelatory or merely false beliefs akin to delusions.
-
Oct 9, 2024 | 
psychologytoday.com | Joe Pierre M.D
Research evidence suggests that psychedelic drugs can influence beliefs about religion and politics. However, the extent to which psychedelics can change people's thinking remains debated. Whether such beliefs represent insights or false impressions is unclear and likely depends on set and setting. Source: Loaivat / PixabayIn my previous blog post, I reviewed the published evidence that the use of psychedelic drugs—also known as entheogens—can change our religious beliefs.
-
Oct 9, 2024 | 
qoshe.com | Joe Pierre M.D
Aa Aa Aa - A + In my previous blog post, I reviewed the published evidence that the use of psychedelic drugs—also known as entheogens—can change our religious beliefs. For example, several studies based on cross-sectional survey data have found that psychedelic use can increase belief in God and decrease belief in atheism.
-
Oct 7, 2024 | 
psychologytoday.com | Joe Pierre M.D
Psychedelics have been called “entheogens” based on their ability to result in "God encounter experiences." Such experiences are associated with significant meaning, belief in God, and decreased fear of death, However, such experiences tend to decrease belief in monotheism. Source: DiegoLDPunk / PxhereLived experience has long told us that taking psychedelic substances like psilocybin, mescaline, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) can result in feelings of religious or spiritual inspiration.
-
Sep 10, 2024 | 
qoshe.com | Joe Pierre M.D
Aa Aa Aa - A + When I lecture about conspiracy theories and the potential harms of firmly held ideological beliefs,1 one of the most frequent questions I’m asked is whether such beliefs can be treated psychiatrically, whether by psychotherapy or medications. I have several responses. One is that, generally speaking, we should avoid modeling ideological beliefs—whether they’re conspiratorial, political, or religious in nature—as pathological psychiatric symptoms.
-
Sep 9, 2024 | 
psychologytoday.com | Joe Pierre M.D
Conspiracy theories are narratives that we hear but are also told by conspiracy entrepreneurs. Political conspiracy theories are often used by politicians to gain power. Overall, they are in the service of maligning opponents as enemies who must be defeated at all costs. Source: j4p4n/openclipartMuch of the psychological research on conspiracy theories to date has focused on trying to explain why people believe them.
