Identity alteration: Difference between revisions

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====3. Identifying with specific "external" systems====

The third of ~~these differing levels~~ can be ~~referred to~~ as ~~a state of “~~'~~'identifying with~~ specific "external" systems''.~~” It can be defined~~ as ~~the experience of~~ a loss of perceived boundaries between a person’s identity and the specific physical systems or concepts within the perceivable external environment which are currently comprising their central point of cognitive focus.

The third level of identity alteration can be described as feeling as if one's identity is attributed to specific external systems or concepts within the external environment, particularly those that would usually be considered as intrinsically separate from one's own being.

The experience itself is often described as a loss of perceived boundaries between a person’s identity and the specific physical systems or concepts within the perceivable external environment which are currently comprising their central point of cognitive focus. This creates a sensation of becoming inextricably "connected to", "one with", "the same as", or "unified" with whatever the perceived external system happens to be.

There are an endless number of ways in which this level manifests itself, but common examples of the experience often include:

* Becoming unified and identifying with a specific object one is interacting with

* Becoming unified with and identifying with a specific object one is interacting with

* Becoming unified and identifying with another person or multiple people (particularly common if engaging in sexual or romantic activities)

* Becoming unified with and identifying with another person or multiple people (particularly common if engaging in sexual or romantic activities)

* Becoming unified and identifying with the entirety of one's own physical body

* Becoming unified with and identifying with the entirety of one's own physical body

* Becoming unified and identifying with large crowds of people (particularly common at raves and music festivals)

* Becoming unified with and identifying with large crowds of people (particularly common at raves and music festivals)

* Becoming unified and identifying with the external environment, but not the people within it

* Becoming unified with and identifying with the external environment, but not the people within it

This ~~creates a sensation which is often described by people as the experience~~ of ~~becoming inextricably "connected to", "one with", "the same as", or "unified" with whatever the perceived external system happens to be. It~~ most commonly occurs during intense states of focus, [[meditation]] or under the influence of [[hallucinogen]]s such as [[psychedelic]]s.

This level of identity alteration most commonly occurs during intense states of focus, [[meditation]] or under the influence of [[hallucinogen|hallucinogens]] such as [[psychedelic|psychedelics]].

====4. Identifying with all perceivable "external" systems====

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ====3. Identifying with specific "external" systems====
-The third of these differing levels can be referred to as a state of “''identifying with specific "external" systems''.” It can be defined as the experience of a loss of perceived boundaries between a person’s identity and the specific physical systems or concepts within the perceivable external environment which are currently comprising their central point of cognitive focus.
+The third level of identity alteration can be described as feeling as if one's identity is attributed to specific external systems or concepts within the external environment, particularly those that would usually be considered as intrinsically separate from one's own being.
+The experience itself is often described as a loss of perceived boundaries between a person’s identity and the specific physical systems or concepts within the perceivable external environment which are currently comprising their central point of cognitive focus. This creates a sensation of becoming inextricably "connected to", "one with", "the same as", or "unified" with whatever the perceived external system happens to be.
 There are an endless number of ways in which this level manifests itself, but common examples of the experience often include:
-* Becoming unified and identifying with a specific object one is interacting with
+* Becoming unified with and identifying with a specific object one is interacting with
-* Becoming unified and identifying with another person or multiple people (particularly common if engaging in sexual or romantic activities)
+* Becoming unified with and identifying with another person or multiple people (particularly common if engaging in sexual or romantic activities)
-* Becoming unified and identifying with the entirety of one's own physical body
+* Becoming unified with and identifying with the entirety of one's own physical body
-* Becoming unified and identifying with large crowds of people (particularly common at raves and music festivals)
+* Becoming unified with and identifying with large crowds of people (particularly common at raves and music festivals)
-* Becoming unified and identifying with the external environment, but not the people within it
+* Becoming unified with and identifying with the external environment, but not the people within it
-This creates a sensation which is often described by people as the experience of becoming inextricably "connected to", "one with", "the same as", or "unified" with whatever the perceived external system happens to be. It most commonly occurs during intense states of focus, [[meditation]] or under the influence of [[hallucinogen]]s such as [[psychedelic]]s.
+This level of identity alteration most commonly occurs during intense states of focus, [[meditation]] or under the influence of [[hallucinogen|hallucinogens]] such as [[psychedelic|psychedelics]].
 ====4. Identifying with all perceivable "external" systems====