Technodelic Transformation: A Study on Virtual Reality for Psychological Well-Being
[RESEARCH SUMMARY]
Sandeep Prakash
California Institute of Integral Studies
ABSTRACT
Psychological research on Virtual Reality (VR) has confirmed its efficacy in treating a variety of mental health disorders. The current resurgence of scientific interest in VR, along with advances in technology and consumer adoption, has revealed a more far-reaching potential of VR: an embodied medicine for transformative experiences analogous to psychedelic experience. This dissertation study explores the transformative process facilitated by experiences of a VR application, SoundSelf VR, where the user employs vocal toning to move through a psychedelic, immersive, interactive, and multi-sensory meditation. After presenting the background context, the literature review introduces research on VR, transpersonal approaches to non-ordinary states of consciousness, and a participatory framework to examine processes of transformation. The methodology section explains the cooperative inquiry protocol and quantitative metrics. The results and discussion sections advance an understanding of (a) the relationship between SoundSelf VR and psychological well-being, as indicated by quantitative outcome measures and qualitative outcomes; (b) the core themes of transformative process ensuing from long-term SoundSelf VR use; (c) the relationship, over time, among transpersonal events, non-ordinary states of consciousness, and psychological well-being; and (d) the value of a participatory research methodology in researching and designing transformative VR applications, particularly when they evoke non-ordinary states of consciousness.
Mean well-being scores World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) increased by 52.2% from pretest (M = 11.50) to 6 weeks (M = 17.50). The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test of median differences was statistically significant (p = .046) with a large effect size (r = .90).
Mean mindfulness scores measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) increased by 12.38% from pretest (M = 119.83) to 6 weeks (M = 134.67). The Wilcoxon test of the median difference was statistically significant (p = .047), with a large effect size (r = .91). The non-reactivity subscale of the FFMQ increased by 14.8% from pretest (M = 18) to 6 weeks (M = 20.66), and was found to be statistically significant (p = .04) with a large effect size (r = .89).
Although changes for four of the scales were not statistically significant, three had large effect sizes and one had a medium effect size. A large effect size (r = .90) was calculated for the 49.16% change in GAD-7 anxiety scores from pre-test to 6 weeks. This reflects a mean shift from mild/moderate anxiety levels to minimal anxiety levels. Additionally, there was an 11% increase in Psychological Well-Being scores from pretest to 6 weeks, with a large effect size (r = .90). One subscale of the PWB, environmental mastery, achieved a statistically significant result (p = .027) and large effect size (r = 1). The 34.87% decrease in mean depression scores measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was not statistically significant, but had a large effect size (r = .52). Mean scores for mysticism measured by the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30), while not statistically significant, increased by 20.08% and had a medium effect size (r = .33).
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In brief, the quantitative results: mean change improved all measures; statistically significant: FFMQ (Mindfulness), and WHO5 (Well-being).
The qualitative results are grouped by 5 interrelated themes:
Voice/Body- awareness of voice and body, making connection between voice and present-moment emotion/feeling, embodiment
VR/Immersion- Propositions about the VR experience, user experience, likes/dislikes of the design of the app
Mindfulness- propositions and transformative outcomes related to meditation, mindfulness, mental clarity, witness awareness of pos/neg emotions
Flow State/Creativity/Stimulant- propositions and transformative outcomes relating to being in flow state, triggering creativity, stimulating/exciting mind/body
Participation/Subjective meaning- transformative outcomes relating to self-awareness, making psychological meaning, recognizing non-obvious elements of psyche, personalization of the inquiry; propositions about self-confidence, improved psych well-being.
Science Quotes
General:
“SoundSelf is an experience of a unique state of consciousness that has immense potential for psychological healing and growth. Through sustained vocal toning in the context of an affective audiovisual loop system, the user is given a window into their own psyche. My research has shown that doing SoundSelf regularly over time--similar to practicing meditation where repetition is key-promotes curiosity and openness towards one’s own psychic contents. This can be beneficially applied in any psychotherapeutic scenario, assisting the client to open to their inner embodied experience and then sharing this with the therapist.”
“The state of consciousness that SoundSelf helps achieve is unique because before VR, it wasn’t possible to achieve this sort of quasi-out-of-body experience while simultaneously empowering greater access to somatic/body sensations. With vocal toning, we know that there is a combination of a quieted mind and increased heart-rate variability, a sign of the body’s adaptability to stress. Combined with self-awareness and intimacy with one’s voice and psyche, this suggests that the state of consciousness during soundself is one that can be used for positive change and transformation.”
Design:
“There are several factors of the design of soundself that result in the transformative experience. The first is user participation, which is referred to as “agency” or sense of control in psychological VR. SoundSelf radically innovates on how one interacts within a VR gameworld, by placing the locus of agency on the voice and body. The second is the audio-visual interactivity which promotes an “affective feedback loop”. The third is the narrative: the gameplay has clearly delineated begging, middle, and end that replicates a psychedelic process of intention, altered state, and integration.
“The design of soundself achieves a remarkable feat: it checks off all 9 components of Flow described by Csikszentmihalyi (1990). These include a merging of action and awareness, immediate feedback, high task concentration, loss of self-consciousness (ego-directed), and autotelic experience. SoundSelf is the first technology to induce a “psychological” flow state, where the body and mind is at an optimal state to process or witness psychic phenomena. This means that one is empowered to see and feel what would otherwise be uncomfortable or overwhelming. One indicator that this works well is that my research found that it particular helps people with overactive minds, such as those with ADHD.
Research Study on Transformative process:
“I wanted to do a research study using a new technology that could get people into a non-ordinary state of consciousness and investigate the transformative processes involved. In my field of transpersonal psychology, there’s been considerable research into the value of non-ordinary states for psychological growth. Stanislav Grof’s pioneering research into LSD psychotherapy in the 1960s helped launch the field of transpersonal psychology.
The research with SoundSelf was designed as a collaborative group inquiry where validated quantitative scales were nested before and after the 6 week process. 8 participants were recruited in VR--using an app called AltSpace--who were VR users interested in contemplative practice. Then we all used SoundSelf at least 3 times per week for 6 weeks, with weekly group meeting to iteratively explore and refine our inquiry. This process generated propositional claims about how and why SoundSelf is transformative, as well as transformative outcomes for the participants.”
Data outcomes:
SoundSelf use over several weeks resulted in statistically significant increases in mindfulness and wellbeing scores, measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and WHO-5. Other measures, while not statistically significant, had large effect sizes, including scales for Depression, Anxiety, and Psychological Well-being. Scores for WHO-5 wellbeing index increased by 52.2%, and FFMQ mindfulness increased by 12.38%, both with large effect sizes, suggesting that soundself practice over time can play a role in achieving these outcomes.
What these scores mean:
Some individuals had some dramatic shifts in PHQ (depression) and GAD-7 (anxiety) scores. These are reliable and validated psychometric instruments used in healthcare. Shifting from mild severity to minimal severity of depression and anxiety in several weeks is a big effect, and it was reported by several individuals in the study.
The interesting story comes when we add the qualitative data, which shows that much of the transformative aspects of SoundSelf stem from the fact that it elicits a combination of non-ordinary consciousness, flow states, and psychological meaning-making. Participants in the study reported that the soundself experience was “intense” or “psychedelic”, and uniquely impacted how each participant made meaning regarding their transformative process.
One participant, let’s call him Participant X, used to practice Zen meditation while younger, but wasn’t able to sustain a practice as his life became busier. He also reported that he was easily distracted, and may have ADHD. SoundSelf helped him quiet his mind-- he said unlike any other tool it helped him achieve a contemplative state as well as reduce his ADHD symptoms. Another participant was a creative person, and used soundself to get into a flow state before he had to perform at a high cognitive level. He found it to be an energizing experience, that was more of a psychedelic experience than a meditation.
Themes and Participant Testimony:
Voice/body
“The first thing I noticed with SoundSelf: I was shocked to hear my voice so profoundly. I’ve never heard myself before like that! The chanting kept me centered and gave me something to focus on… it let me be a lot more in the moment and in the meditation in a way that I’ve never experienced before.
Virtuality/Immersion
“You sing, and it puts you in the performance. Like a band around your voice. As you tone it colors the space for you, it’s different from doing a substance that get’s you high, I don’t see myself abusing it. Just by singing it activates something, psychological and practical.
“It gives me juice on a regular basis, and that hasn’t diminished. It’s something I look forward to: when I meet with a group in AltSpace—most of these people are PhDs and trained in 3d design—I need something going in to get my brain in gear for the intense intellectual conversations, and SoundSelf has helped with that.”
It’s very psychedelic for sure. It’s almost like a body of water that you enter into. And you are completely surrounded by it. Kind of like you’re on the beach, making your way into water, and finally submerging yourself. No two days are alike… There’s always different conditions, water’s different, what’s floating around, seaweed, temperatures… And then you come back out. It feels like taking a dip in the ocean of yourself. It’s an opportunity to be with yourself. Go over your fear, or abandonment, things that may come up during a SoundSelf session that you might not have been thinking about at all: you get to swim, around it or through it…
Flow
“It get’s me into a Flow State.. In particular the changing visuals helped with that”
Mindfulness
Because the inquiry occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a desire among participants to alleviate the burden of stress and mental health issues stemming from social isolation. For example, PD reported that he was having trouble quelling rumination, and found the VR experience to be a helpful meditation:
“I’m a super social person, I’m used to running around from one place to another and now that’s not possible. In terms of time alone, it can be bad, you spiral… SoundSelf helped with that to a significant degree because while I was in the meditation practice within soundself, if found myself (thinking) “you got this thing, let’s use it”.
Process/Participation
I find myself using SoundSelf, when my mind is active to dial it back down. I think it can be useful for people like myself with ADHD. I was looking for some type of routine, normalcy… without a job and couldn’t go to the gym—it was a combination of a lot of things going on in my life. Using SoundSelf I feel a bit more stable.
. On the other side of it (the research co-inquiry process) I can definitely say it is a form of meditation in the sense that it alters consciousness, but for me it would be something I would use to wake up. Because of the effect that it has; because how it excites the brain: is that really meditation? For me it makes me feel more creative, more energetic. Is this going to be something that takes me away when I’m having a really stressful day? I think it could be that type of distraction but not maybe in the same vein as mindfulness meditation. [SP1]
[SP1]Psych meaning-making in the process of evaluating the best use of the app for oneself. There is a emphasis here that while it can provide reprieve from a stressful day, like a guided meditation, there is a deeper empowerment or potential, to enact agency to use as a creative tool.
