Reality Tunnel
A reality tunnel refers to an individual's unique perception of reality, shaped by personal filters and cognitive biases. These "tunnels" are reinforced by confirmation bias, where we focus on information that supports our preexisting beliefs while ignoring or rationalizing away anything that contradicts them.
This self-reinforcing process makes reality tunnels largely invisible to their inhabitants, creating the illusion that their perspective is objective. While many people assume their beliefs align with consensus reality, each person's reality tunnel is a subjective creation, shaped by their own thoughts and experiences, whether they realize it or not.
It is thought that psychedelics can help break down old reality tunnels by removing ingrained mental filters and replacing them with new ones, leading to fresh perspectives and semi-permanent shifts in how reality is perceived.