Dr Martha Newson is a cognitive anthropologist and Future Leaders Fellowship known for her work on group bonding, social identity, and the psychology of rituals. She has a particular focus on how these dynamics relate to extreme behaviours, such as those observed in football fan communities, prisons and rave culture, as well as in therapeutic and ritual contexts involving psychedelics. Martha is Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Greenwich, and Leader of the Changing Lives Lab Group at the University of Oxford.
Colloquium Presentation: 29 November 2024 speaking online (Sir Henry Wellcome Building G17 3.30-5pm)
Amplifying the Therapeutic Power of Psychedelics through Group Dynamics and Ritual Contexts
Abstract
The recent surge in psychedelics research has underscored their potential in treating a wide range of conditions, including anxiety, PTSD, anorexia, depression, and addiction. While psychedelic-assisted therapy shows great promise, its current medicalised form often neglects a crucial element: the social dimension. This talk explores how embedding psychedelics within group settings can enhance therapeutic outcomes, drawing on the ‘social cure’ model. We examine the strong empirical evidence that highlights the importance of social identity and group contexts in amplifying the effects of psychedelic therapy, paralleling practices found in indigenous and community-based rituals. To advance this approach, we offer seven key recommendations for integrating social identity frameworks into therapeutic practice and research.
Additionally, we present findings from a retrospective survey investigating the transformative effects of group rituals involving psychedelics, particularly at raves and free parties where participants engage in the “4Ds”—dance, drums, sleep deprivation, and drugs. Our research demonstrates that these elements, when experienced in an awe-inspiring, ritualised environment, foster strong social bonds and prosocial behaviour within the group, though not necessarily extending to a broader sense of humanity. This underscores the significance of context and group identity in driving personal transformation. These insights offer a fresh direction for enhancing psychedelic-assisted therapies through structured group settings and ritual practices, broadening the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.