More and more studies are happening at transformative events around the world. This summer a research paper was published about how transformative effects of these gatherings are lasting. This 5-year experiment compared findings from a half-dozen mass gatherings. 

The results explore generosity and altruism, describe collective effervescence, and consider the biases of self-selection and psychedelic substances. People report that transformative experiences are common, increase over time, and include new perceptions of each other… and universal connectedness… and lasting changes in moral orientation.

How did they do it? What did they find, and how does it relate to you, and to me, and to BRC?

If you like science, or psychology, or transformation, or if you want to like them, listen as social scientists share stories with Stuart about the pleasure, the pain, and the process.

Molly Crockett, associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Yale University

Daniel Yudkin, postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania

Prosocial correlates of transformative experiences at secular multi-day mass gatherings | Nature

Researchers Share First Findings on Burners’ Transformative Experiences | Burning Man Journal

Collective effervescence - Wikipedia

FOOTNOTES:

S. Megan Heller (The Countess of The BRC Census)

L.A. Paul

Martha Newson

Harvey Whitehouse

Dominic Beaulieu-Prévost

Ritual, Dimitris Xygalatas

Burning Progeny | 2018 Symposium in Fribourg

BURNING MAN LIVE: THE SCIENCE OF GENEROSITY

LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG