Novelty enhancement

Novelty enhancement is a feeling of increased fascination [1] , awe [1] [2] [3] , and appreciation [3] [4] attributed to specific parts or the entirety of one's external environment. This can result in an often overwhelming impression that everyday concepts such as nature, existence, common events, and even household objects are now considerably more profound, interesting, and important. [5] [6]

The experience of this effect commonly forces those who undergo it to acknowledge, consider, and appreciate the things around them in a level of detail and intensity which remains largely unparalleled throughout every day sobriety. It is often generally described using phrases such as "a sense of wonder" [1] [3] or "seeing the world as new" [4] .

Novelty enhancement is often accompanied by other coinciding effects such as personal bias suppression, motivation enhancement, and spirituality enhancement in a manner which further intensifies the experience. It is most commonly induced under the influence of moderate dosages of psychedelic compounds, such as LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline. However, it can also occur to a lesser extent under the influence of cannabinoids, dissociatives, and entactogens.


References

  1. [1][2][3]
    Hunt, H. T., & Chefurka, C. M. (1976). A test of the psychedelic model of altered states of consciousness: The role of introspective sensitization in eliciting unusual subjective reports. Archives of General Psychiatry, 33(7), 867-876. | https://www.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1976.01770070097012
  2. Bonner, E. T., & Friedman, H. L. (2011). A conceptual clarification of the experience of awe: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. The Humanistic Psychologist, 39(3), 222-235. | https://doi.org/10.1080/08873267.2011.593372
  3. [1][2][3]
    Griffiths, R. R., Johnson, M. W., Richards, W. A., Richards, B. D., Jesse, R., MacLean, K. A., ... & Klinedinst, M. A. (2018). Psilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experience in combination with meditation and other spiritual practices produces enduring positive changes in psychological functioning and in trait measures of prosocial attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 32(1), 49-69. | https://dx.doi.org/10.1177%2F0269881117731279
  4. [1][2]
    Das, S., Barnwal, P., Ramasamy, A., Sen, S., & Mondal, S. (2016). Lysergic acid diethylamide: a drug of ‘use’?. Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology, 6(3), 214-228. | https://dx.doi.org/10.1177%2F2045125316640440
  5. Bowers, M. B., & Freedman, D. X. (1966). Psychedelic experiences in acute psychoses. Archives of General Psychiatry, 15(3), 240-248. | https://www.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1966.01730150016003
  6. Belser, Alexander B.; Agin-Liebes, Gabrielle; Swift, T. Cody; Terrana, Sara; Devenot, Neşe; Friedman, Harris L.; Guss, Jeffrey; Bossis, Anthony; Ross, Stephen (2017). "Patient Experiences of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis". Journal of Humanistic Psychology. 57 (4): 354–388. | https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0022167817706884

Tags

amplification
cannabinoid
cognitive
enhancement
entactogen
psychedelic

Contributors

The following people contributed to the content of this article:

JosieKayleeGabrielGraham