←Glossary
    Practice

    Set and Setting

    The combination of one's internal state ("set," short for mindset) and external environment ("setting") during a psychedelic experience.

    Coined by Timothy Leary in the 1960s, this framework is now considered one of the most important factors in shaping the quality and safety of a psychedelic experience. "Set" includes mood, expectations, intentions, and psychological history. "Setting" includes the physical environment, the people present, music, lighting, and cultural context. Clinical trials carefully control both variables to optimize outcomes.