ASCs "promote cohesion in marginal communities"

Integral Shamanism (transcript) — Gaia: The Integral Pod

Here's an article from the journal, The Anthropology of Consciousness, titled, “Shamanism and Altered States of Consciousness.” I'm just posting the conclusion, because it is a 36 page paper. The conclusion of the researchers is basically that not all ASC are the same, nor have the same effect or purpose. And that, like Wilber would say, the level of consciousness has to be known before hand, in order to properly determine the ASC for the individual. That is ASC or empirically measurable brain activity is dependent upon the current consciouness of the individual, and can't see seen as a one size fits all model.

"Altered states of consciousness have also been viewed as vehicles of adaptation for societies as a whole when confronted with consequences of social, cultural, economic, and political change, especially when they have resulted in revitalization movements (La Barre 1938, Wallace 1956).
These may focus on accommodation to changing circumstances such as those brought on by European expansionism and consequent reservation life, as in the case of Native American revitalization movements, or as a way of reconfirming religious beliefs and traditions, as in the case of Thai pusam ceremonies among the Hindu community in Malaysia (detailed above). In either case ASCs may be utilized to promote cohesion in marginal communities.