There was a thread I saw in a part of the site that I am not allowed to post in that talked about having issues with egocentricity and messiah complexes while on LSD. They chalked it up to "plant spirits" and the unwholesomeness of synthetic compounds, but I have a much more concrete reason for this. LSD, unlike most psychedelics, also acts on the dopamine receptors (d2 and d3 agonists if IIRC). These are the same receptors amphetamines indirectly stimulate (though the way they stimulate is very different, they raise endogenous dopamine levels). This dopaminergic activity contributes to the "creative-stimulant" activity LSD has (hoffman himself took microdoses as a mild stimulant, he compared it to ritalin, and if it hadn't been made illegal he intended to bring it to market as a tonic), but can also cause egocentricity and mania.

However, in the "Handbook For the Therapeutic use of LSD-24, Individual and group Procedures" (1959 - D.B. BLEWETT, Ph.D. & N. CHWELOS, M.D.), they briefly talk about how some people tend to shift the focus of their trip either entirely outward (escaping the internal reality) or entirely inward (escaping the external reality). They thought that the egocentric effects of LSD were actually examples of the Psyche trying to protect its sense of stability (aka a psychological block, which would be counter-productive within a therapeutic setting).

I personally think it's some combination of the two factors. Some people already have very active d receptors, so there may be a population segment that is prone to mania, messianic thoughts, or other forms of egocentricity while under the influence of LSD (I consider myself a part of that population). In my experience, this can be (partially) combated by having a sober trip sitter present to help a tripper keep a grip on reality.

Huh, I actually haven't heard much about LSD and egotrips.
I guess I do experience an element of believing I somehow understand things to a degree most people don't while on LSD. I've never really bought the whole only natural psychoactive plants are worth doing thing - LSD has had huge positive influences on my life. But dmt and shrooms and such certainly are a more humble, selfless trip. I can't believe I never picked up on that.

Agreed. Another arguement against the whole "natural psychoactive plants" thing is that they can be more dangerous than synthetic drugs. San Pedro, for instance, contains many other alkaloids than mescaline, many of which are adrenic agents. This puts an unnecessary stress on the heart. I would prefer 99.95% pure Mescaline to Cacti or Total Alkaloid Extract of a Cacti (which is what you get when you do an Acid/Base extraction of a cacti) any day.

Also, on the subject of ego trips on LSD, Charles Manson. 'Nuff said.

While reading this thread the thought of Steve Jobs occurred to me. Jobs claimed lsd shifted his reality and changed his life for ever over the course of the two years or so that he experimented with it. Everything i've ever heard or known about the guy has been pretty ego centric, from the way he treated apple employees to his relationship with Bill Gates, I think Jobs is evidence of it.

I've noticed it in myself as well having experimented with it frequently for two years. In my defense i'll say that I'm not nearly as bad as steve jobs when it comes to this attribute but thoughts of "we're all one" and "maybe I am really god and everyone else is a hologram" can and will creep in. But I see it for what it is, a psychedelic epiphany which can be neither disproved or proved in a 100% convincing fashion.

Regardless It is still my belief that the over all effect that it had on Jobs' life as well as my own life has been one of overwhelming positivity and has helped make my future brighter.