Can altered states change worldview?
Short Answer
Altered states can fundamentally shift worldview by disrupting habitual thought patterns and revealing alternative ways of perceiving reality, relationships, and meaning.
Why This Matters
Altered states temporarily dissolve the brain's default mode network, which maintains our ordinary sense of self and reality. This dissolution allows suppressed or novel perspectives to emerge, often leading to lasting changes in core beliefs about existence, consciousness, and personal identity. The experience demonstrates that our normal waking consciousness represents just one possible way of organizing perception and meaning.
Where This Changes
Worldview shifts depend on the intensity and integration of the experience. Brief or shallow altered states may produce temporary perspective changes, while profound experiences with proper preparation and integration tend to create more lasting transformations.