Black Beryl Self and Nonself, with Nick Canby
Dec 5, 2025
Join clinical psychologist Nick Canby, a visiting assistant professor at Brown University, as he explores the complexities of the self through meditation and psychedelics. He articulates the nuances between self-loss as enlightenment or pathology, sharing insights from his research on boundary perceptions. Canby warns about the potential dangers of mystical experiences and emphasizes the importance of context in shaping emotional responses. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of psychology and spirituality.
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Self Is A Cluster Of Processes
- The term “self” covers many processes from narrative identity to basic bodily perspective.
- Nick Canby emphasizes self as constructed across agency, ownership, and spatial self-location.
Multiple Kinds Of Boundary Shifts
- Boundary changes come in distinct forms like expansion, loss, insight, interpersonal shift, or body-object blending.
- Different phenomenological boundary-types predict different emotional and functional outcomes.
Expansion Vs Contraction Predicts Outcome
- Reduction of boundaries (expanded self) often links to positive outcomes and intentional contexts.
- Increased boundaries and alienation align more with dissociation, trauma, and negative outcomes.
