Nuwer pointed out that Brendan's "seemingly spontaneous change" appears to be an exception to the norm. MDMA releases the chemical oxytocin, which our bodies naturally produce. The chemical causes animals to fiercely love their own, but also protect them from others — which can mean a disdain for outsiders may actually increase.

[–] Cube6392@beehaw.org 20 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Maybe he felt a surge to protect humans in general, and that intense feeling changed his outlook. Yeah, definitely, we should treat this as an exception not the rule, but I find myself wondering if he was already open to change, even if he didn't realize

[–] withersailor@aussie.zone 15 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I was wondering if he was already wanting to change and that's why he signed up to the study.

[–] Halvdan@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 years ago

I think that's likely as well. It may have been the thing that gave him a push to change, but I don't think anything would have happened if he hadn't had doubts beforehand.

[–] fred@beehaw.org 13 points 2 years ago

Interesting. I took MDMA is in college once. It wasnt a game changer or anything.

Now LSD. The one time I did that, it definitely altered the "lens" i viewed the world in, for the better. I did this with some friends to make sure it wasnt a bad trip, but mostly in solitude. Im not sure that it really changes much of my political leanings, but i did have some deep introspective thought and it did affect how I viewed others and the world, and generally in a more empathetic way.

That said, after having some friends that arguably abused it, i avoided too many more further interactions with it which was good. Because around the 4th time I did it, i was in a bad way, and had an awful trip, which turned me off to most mind altering substances for a while.