New Books in Psychology Black Beryl: Self and Nonself, with Nick Canby
Dec 12, 2025
Nick Canby, a clinical psychologist and visiting assistant professor at Brown University, specializes in meditation and psychedelics. In this engaging discussion, he delves into the complex concept of the self, explaining types of self-change and the fine line between positive insights and detrimental experiences. Canby emphasizes the nuanced ways meditation can lead to both healing and challenge, warning against simplistic interpretations. He also shares insights from his research on self-loss and its implications for mental health, highlighting the importance of context and support.
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Context Colors Appraisal
- Phenomenology of self-loss is similar across causes, but emotions and appraisals differ by context.
- Voluntary and ritualized contexts (meditation, psychedelics) produce more positive appraisals than involuntary contexts.
Scrutinize Teacher Normalization
- Evaluate meditation teachers: supportive normalization helps but normalizing pathology can harm.
- Insist teachers differentiate spiritual crisis from signs needing medical attention.
Duration Shapes Functional Impact
- Duration matters: short mystical states may be integrated, persistent nonself states can impair practical functioning.
- Differentiating a background insight from active loss is clinically crucial.
