1. “A cognitive perspective on spirituality - with a little help from psychosis" “A cognitive perspective on spirituality - with a little help from psychosis" Isabel Clarke Consultant Clinical Psychologist

2. Some Questions Why do spiritual/religious concerns persist in the face of the dominance of science? Why do spiritual/religious concerns persist in the face of the dominance of science? Why is there such a religious flavour and preoccupation to much "psychotic" talk? Why is there such a religious flavour and preoccupation to much "psychotic" talk? Where does the sense of unshakeable conviction come from that we find both in delusional ideas, and in religious/spiritual thinking – conviction that, in extreme cases, leads both groups to acts of violence etc. that are otherwise out of character for the individual? Where does the sense of unshakeable conviction come from that we find both in delusional ideas, and in religious/spiritual thinking – conviction that, in extreme cases, leads both groups to acts of violence etc. that are otherwise out of character for the individual?

4. Two Ideas The apparent “two realities”; “higher and lower consciousnesses” etc. is the result of properties of human perception and information processing – not the world out there! The apparent “two realities”; “higher and lower consciousnesses” etc. is the result of properties of human perception and information processing – not the world out there! There is a universal process, found in individuals, groups and societies, starting with a state of boundariless euphoria and ending in paranoia There is a universal process, found in individuals, groups and societies, starting with a state of boundariless euphoria and ending in paranoia This gives us a ‘normalising’ way of understanding psychosis as well as a richer but humbler perspective on spirituality. This gives us a ‘normalising’ way of understanding psychosis as well as a richer but humbler perspective on spirituality.

5. Putting Psychosis and Spirituality together: what is the evidence? Putting Psychosis and Spirituality together: what is the evidence? Schizotypy – a diminsion of experience: Gordon Claridge. Schizotypy – a diminsion of experience: Gordon Claridge. Mike Jackson’s research on the overlap between psychotic and spiritual experience. Mike Jackson’s research on the overlap between psychotic and spiritual experience. Emmanuelle Peter’s research on New Religious Movements. Emmanuelle Peter’s research on New Religious Movements. Wider sources of evidence – e.g.Cross cultural perspectives; anthropology. Wider sources of evidence – e.g.Cross cultural perspectives; anthropology.

6. Religious experience, spirituality and psychosis: a little reorganisation. Instead of psychosis and spirituality, I propose two ways of operating in the world: Two modes of experiencing: The everyday The everyday The transliminal The transliminal Both of these are available to all human beings. Both are incomplete.

7. The Everyday TheTransliminal Ordinary Ordinary Clear limits Clear limits Access to full memory and learning Access to full memory and learning Precise meanings available Precise meanings available Separation between people Separation between people Clear sense of self Clear sense of self Emotions moderated and grounded Emotions moderated and grounded Numinous Numinous Unbounded Unbounded Access to ordinary knowledge/memory is patchy. Access to ordinary knowledge/memory is patchy. Connections abound - or all is meaningless Connections abound - or all is meaningless Self: lost in the whole or supremely important Self: lost in the whole or supremely important Emotions: swing between extremes or absent Emotions: swing between extremes or absent

8. Looking at this cognitively Two complementary approaches Two complementary approaches Kelly’s Personal Construct Theory Kelly’s Personal Construct Theory Interacting Cognitive Subsystems (Teasdale and Barnard). Interacting Cognitive Subsystems (Teasdale and Barnard).

9. Constructs Are based on past experience/memory Are based on past experience/memory New experience is filtered through our constructs New experience is filtered through our constructs They colour and help to define our world They colour and help to define our world Each person’s construct system is unique to them. Each person’s construct system is unique to them.

10. Transliminal Experience = operating Beyond the Construct System No means of anticipating or discriminating No means of anticipating or discriminating A state without boundaries A state without boundaries Both/and - two contradictory things can be simultaneously valid Both/and - two contradictory things can be simultaneously valid

11. Moving beyond the constructs Is hard for most Is hard for most but not for others - cf. Schizotypy but not for others - cf. Schizotypy Is often mediated by change in state of arousal/consciousness - e.g. mind altering spiritual practices or drugs. Is often mediated by change in state of arousal/consciousness - e.g. mind altering spiritual practices or drugs. It can be a response to crisis or impasse It can be a response to crisis or impasse

12. Beyond Constructs and Boundaries Liberating; ecstatic; one with the universe Liberating; ecstatic; one with the universe BUT BUT Mind is no longer private Mind is no longer private Open to any influence or “insertion” Open to any influence or “insertion” Loss of the construct “safe/dangerous” - danger can come from anywhere. Loss of the construct “safe/dangerous” - danger can come from anywhere. The boundary between inner and outer is lost. The boundary between inner and outer is lost.

13. Introducing Interacting Cognitive Subsystems (Teasdale & Barnard 1993). Introducing Interacting Cognitive Subsystems (Teasdale & Barnard 1993). Interacting Cognitive Subsystems provides Interacting Cognitive Subsystems provides An information processing model of cognition An information processing model of cognition Developed through extensive research into memory and limitations on processing. Developed through extensive research into memory and limitations on processing. A way into understanding the “Head/Heart split in people. A way into understanding the “Head/Heart split in people.

14. Body State subsystem Auditory ss. Visual ss. Interacting Cognitive Subsystems. Implicational subsystem Implicational Memory Propositional subsystem Propositional Memory Verbal ss.

15. Important Features of this model Our subjective experience is the result of two overall meaning making systems interacting – neither is in control. Our subjective experience is the result of two overall meaning making systems interacting – neither is in control. Each has a different character, corresponding to “head” and “heart”. Each has a different character, corresponding to “head” and “heart”. The IMPLICATIONAL Subsystem (which I will also call RELATIONAL) manages emotion – and therefore relationship. The IMPLICATIONAL Subsystem (which I will also call RELATIONAL) manages emotion – and therefore relationship. The verbal, logical, PROPOSITIONAL ss. gives us our sense of individual self. The verbal, logical, PROPOSITIONAL ss. gives us our sense of individual self.

16. A challenging model of the mind. The mind is simultaneously individual, and reaches beyond the individual, when the relational ss. is dominant. The mind is simultaneously individual, and reaches beyond the individual, when the relational ss. is dominant. This happens at high and at low arousal. This happens at high and at low arousal. There is a constant balancing act between logic and emotion – human fallibility There is a constant balancing act between logic and emotion – human fallibility Mindfulness is a useful technique to manage that balance. Mindfulness is a useful technique to manage that balance.

17. More about the relational mode of being In our relational mode we are part of the whole – and open to that which is beyond ourselves In our relational mode we are part of the whole – and open to that which is beyond ourselves We are defined by all our relationships – they are a part of us We are defined by all our relationships – they are a part of us This includes relationship with that which is deepest and furthest – which is beyond our naming capacity, but is sometimes called God, Goddess, Spirit etc. This includes relationship with that which is deepest and furthest – which is beyond our naming capacity, but is sometimes called God, Goddess, Spirit etc. Relationship is something we experience – so it can be beyond propositional knowledge – we can feel more than we know. Relationship is something we experience – so it can be beyond propositional knowledge – we can feel more than we know.

18. Web of Relationships Web of Relationships Self as experienced in relationship with primary caregiver Sense of value comes from rel. with the spiritual primary care-giver In Rel. with wider group etc. In Rel. with earth: non humans etc.

19. Two Ways of Knowing Good everyday functioning = good communication between implicational/relational and propositional Good everyday functioning = good communication between implicational/relational and propositional At high and at low arousal, the relational ss becomes dominant At high and at low arousal, the relational ss becomes dominant This gives us a different quality of experience – one that is both sought and shunned. This gives us a different quality of experience – one that is both sought and shunned.

20. Implicational Subsystem concerns Meaning and meaningfulness Meaning and meaningfulness The self; threat and value The self; threat and value Intense, extreme feelings (all or nothing) Intense, extreme feelings (all or nothing) Loss of fine discrimination and boundaries (the domain of the propositional) Loss of fine discrimination and boundaries (the domain of the propositional) This gives us the quality of experience I will call the “transliminal” This gives us the quality of experience I will call the “transliminal”

21. I suggest Both ways of encountering reality are equally valid Both ways of encountering reality are equally valid Both are intrinsically incomplete Both are intrinsically incomplete Human beings have always honoured the transliminal Human beings have always honoured the transliminal Made space for the sacred. Made space for the sacred.

22. Advantages of this model It clarifies the characteristics of the transliminal; It clarifies the characteristics of the transliminal; both/and, not either/or both/and, not either/or paradox paradox numinosity numinosity It helps to explain common psychotic experiences, such as: It helps to explain common psychotic experiences, such as: thought insertion thought insertion distortions in the sense of selfIt brings psychosis into the realm of universal human experience distortions in the sense of selfIt brings psychosis into the realm of universal human experience It brings psychosis into the realm of universal human experience It brings psychosis into the realm of universal human experience It enables us to take experience and its consequences at face value without judging It enables us to take experience and its consequences at face value without judging It provides a model to help people to learn to manage the threshold; to be able to pass across and back and know which side they are on. It provides a model to help people to learn to manage the threshold; to be able to pass across and back and know which side they are on.

23. Web addresses www.SpiritualCrisisNetwork.org.uk www.SpiritualCrisisNetwork.org.uk www.SpiritualCrisisNetwork.org.uk www.scispirit.com/Psychosis_Spirituality/ www.scispirit.com/Psychosis_Spirituality/ www.scispirit.com/Psychosis_Spirituality/