Biological, social and lifestyle factors
Influencing factors (biological, social and lifestyle) are another way to think about the occurrence of unusual experiences. In this way of thinking each factor has a role to play in an individual having a susceptibility or propensity to have unusual experiences. This draws on a number of theoretical perspectives, including those that have been mentioned within this course.
Despite a lengthy and in-depth attempt to find one specific causal factor for why some people have more or problematic unusual experiences, the research suggests it is a complicated interplay between various influencing factors. There is an implied cumulative effect, meaning the more influencing factors an individual has the greater the likelihood that they will have these experiences. Findings, therefore, suggest a multi-factorial approach, and also suggest that increased frequency, or more problematic, unusual experiences are most likely when a number of influencing factors are present.
The section below goes through influencing factors associated with an increased likelihood that an individual will have unusual experiences. The factors mentioned here are some of the prominent ones but this is not an exhaustive list.
Factors that increase the chance of unusual experiences
1) Lifestyle (and pregnancy) factors and unusual experiences
Sleep deprivation and nutrition: Long-term sleep deprivation and a lack of food or an unhealthy diet can lead to unusual experiences. Our bodies and minds rely on sleep to repair, rest and rejuvenates. Without it our ability to properly process sensory information is disrupted. Not eating enough food, or a diet lacking in essential vitamins and minerals can mean we lack the ability to maintain basic functions, for example removing toxins or building neurotransmitters.
Season of birth: Research suggests that the season a person is born in can increase their likelihood of having unusual experiences. Individuals born in the winter or early spring are more likely to have unusual experiences.
Pregnancy: Mothers that are stressed, malnourished, smoked or had diabetes during pregnancy are more likely to have a child that goes on to have unusual experiences. There is also evidence to suggest that mothers who have a severe infection during their pregnancy will have a child who is more likely to have unusual experiences.
Drug use: Cannabis and other drugs are known to increase the likelihood of having unusual experiences. Although this link is not necessarily the cause there is good evidence to suggest it can be an influencing factor for susceptible people.
Obstetric complications: These are complications that occur during pregnancy, childbirth or the babies early life. For example, premature birth or low birth weight. These complications can be traumatic and highly stressful and increase both the mothers and babies chances of having unusual experiences.
2) Social factors and unusual experiences
Difficult relationships: These during childhood, at home or school, can be influencing factors in the development of unusual factors later in life. These include types of social adversity, for example parental separation (before age 16), bullying and traumatic social experiences such as death of a family member. Social adversity in childhood seems to have a cumulative effect, meaning the more adversity, the greater the likelihood of having unusual experiences.
Poverty: Having a poor living environment during childhood can increase stress, result in poor nutrition, and sleep deprivation, financial worries, and poor physical health. It may also increase the number of daily hassles in the home that the child deals with. All these factors increase the likelihood of having unusual experiences.
Adulthood: Although the examples in this section refer to childhood, experiencing social adversity during adulthood can also increase the likelihood of having unusual experiences, for example bullying, living in poverty, stress, and trauma.
Urban life: Environments are densely populated areas like large cities. They can be stress and could involve conflict between neighbours. They can also be competitive with a focus on productivity and consumerism increasing the likelihood of having unusual experiences. Living outside of urban centres may reduce this influence.
Migration: This can uproot people from their culture and language. Migrants may find it difficult to navigate the new environment they are in. They may experience racism and discrimination. The worse this is the greater the increase in a person’s likelihood of having unusual experiences.
3) Biological factors and unusual experiences
Chemical imbalance: Our brain uses a variety of neurotransmitters to regulate itself. At times there may be imbalances in these neurotransmitters, for example serotonin or dopamine. These are thought to be related to emotional and mental processes. Serotonin, dopamine, glutamate, and GABA are all thought to play a role in unusual experiences.
Role of infection: Unusual experiences can be linked to infections. It is common for people who are severely ill to have these experiences, especially those at the end of life. People with urine infections can also have unusual experiences, as well as those with a high fever.
Genetics: The interplay between genetic make-up and the environment (epigenetics) appears important to the occurrence of unusual experiences. Research suggests that some genes increase the likelihood of them.
The brain: Both brain structure and function can differ in people who have unusual experiences. Functional differences are found in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. Structure varies in multiple brain regions, for example the amygdala and the choroid plexus.
Low vitamin D: Some individuals have a naturally lower level of vitamin D than others and need to take supplements for their whole life. Other individuals experience low vitamin D at some point in their life. This reduction can, in some cases increase the occurrence of unusual experiences.
Head injury: There is a connection between head injury and unusual experiences. Individuals who have had a significant brain injury may develop unusual experiences.
Other courses in this series
- To find out more about types of unusual experiences please go to our Exploring Unusual Experiences course.
- To find out more about the ways of treating and managing unusual experiences go to our Treatments and Self-help course.
You can access these courses through the courses button.
Consider more:
u003c!u002du002d wp:list u002du002du003ernu003cul class=u0022wp-block-listu0022u003eu003c!u002du002d wp:list-item u002du002du003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eCan you relate to any of the influencing factors described above? How many? u003c/strongu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c!u002du002d /wp:list-item u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:list-item u002du002du003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eDo you think it is helpful to think about the factors that research suggests increase the likelihood and distress of unusual experiences?u003c/strongu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c!u002du002d /wp:list-item u002du002du003eu003c/ulu003ernu003c!u002du002d /wp:list u002du002du003e