Set and setting: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:33, 11 January 2021

Revision as of 11:52, 15 January 2021

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{{short description|Coined by Timothy Leary to describe the mindset and ___location of hallucinogenic experiences}}

{{for|the Bardo Pond album|Set and Setting (album)}}

'''Set and setting''', when referring to a psychedelic drug experience, means one's mindset (shortened to "set") and the physical and social environment (the setting) in which the user has the experience. This is especially relevant for [[Psychedelic drug|psychedelic]] experiences in either a therapeutic or recreational context. According to the book ''[[How to Change Your Mind]]'' by [[Michael Pollan]], the concept of set and setting was observed by the "Johnny Appleseed" of LSD, [[Alfred Matthew Hubbard|Al Hubbard]] visiting mushroom ceremonies in Mexico. The terms were used at least as early as 1958 by [[Ludwig von Bertalanffy]] and popularized by [[Timothy Leary]] in 1961, and became widely accepted by researchers in [[psychedelic therapy]].{{ref|Bertalanffy1958}}{{ref|Hartogsohn2017}} [[Norman Zinberg]] has also discussed this in ''Drug, Set, And Setting: The Basis for Controlled Intoxicant Use'' (1984).

"Set" is the mental state a person brings to the experience, like thoughts, mood and expectations. "Setting" is the physical and social environment. Social support networks have shown to be particularly important in the outcome of the psychedelic experience.{{ref|Shewan-et-al2000}} They are able to control or guide the course of the experience, both consciously and subconsciously. Stress, fear, or a disagreeable environment, may result in an unpleasant experience ([[bad trip]]). Conversely, a relaxed, curious person in a warm, comfortable and safe place is more likely to have a pleasant experience. A curated playlist can be part of a favourable setting.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Naftulin|first=Julia|date=2020-11-06|title=Listen: The playlist scientists used to unlock 'elevated states of consciousness' in people tripping on 'magic' mushrooms for a research study|url=https://www.insider.com/listen-psychedelic-playlist-researchers-use-to-reach-elevated-state-2020-11|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-02|website=Insider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Strickland|first=Justin C.|last2=Garcia-Romeu|first2=Albert|last3=Johnson|first3=Matthew W.|date=2020-12-29|title=Set and Setting: A Randomized Study of Different Musical Genres in Supporting Psychedelic Therapy|url=https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.0c00187|journal=ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science|doi=10.1021/acsptsci.0c00187|doi-access=free}}</ref>