I think that it might be useful to distinguish among the different ways
in which the term/concept of mindfulness can and has been used:
(1) New Agey: as usual, Louis Schmier provides a wonderful example
of how mindfulness can be divorced from its historical religious context
and from the psychological research and theory that focuses on it.
I hesitate to ask but I wonder if Louis can provide references for his
explication of what mindfulness is or is he speaking on the basis of
his personal experience?
(2) Religious: I think that Paul Okami has it right in placing the
concept of mindfulness in a Buddhist religious context though I would
expect that other religions might also have some claim on it as they
have made similar claims for mediation in their traditions. One can
talk about the role such a concept has in theology and in its practice
by its adherrents but it unlikely that one will be able to reach empirically
based conclusions within such a framework (to be fair, that is not
really a consideration in a theological framework).
(3) Psychology Research and Theory: a quick search of Psycinfo
turns up 1,331 entries with the Keyword "mindfulness", with 1,137
dated from 2000 onwards. The oldest use of the term mindfulness
(as we currently understand it) dates back to the early 1970s with the
following references:
Gilbert, Albin R. (1973). An essay on the history of Asian psychology.
Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the American Psychological
Association. 1973, pp. 937-938.
Abstract
Discusses Asian psychology as a scientifically grounded discipline.
Based on phenomenological introspection, it leads to systematic
meditations as "independent variables," with "enlightenment" resulting
as a "dependent variable." Considering man's "enlightenment" as a
research design, the term "psychotherapy," rather than "experimental
procedure," is a more fitting characterization of Asian psychology. It
is concluded that although the meditative way of Asian psychotherapy
is out of step with present day living, the way of maintaining
detached "mindfulness" throughout daily living, recommended by the
Buddha, is in better keeping with our time. (17 ref.) (PsycINFO
Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)
Deatherage, Gary. (1975). The clinical use of "mindfulness" meditation
techniques in short-term psychotherapy. Journal of Transpersonal
Psychology. 7(2), 1975, pp. 133-143.
Abstract
Describes a set of psychotherapeutic techniques adopted from Buddhist
satipatthana or "mindfulness meditation." The mindfulness or
watchfulness technique is based on the premise that only the
individual has the ability to help himself/herself. Training with
psychiatric patients has proven most effective by beginning with
observations of an obvious body process (e.g., breathing). By
establishing a "watcher self" the patient is grounded in the present
where there is a greater chance of making significant therapeutic
progress. Emphasis is placed on labelling intruding thoughts or
emotions so the patient may gain insight into his/her emotions and
motivations which energize his/her speech and behaviors. The use of
mindfulness meditation in treating 5 adults in short-term (2-12 wks)
therapy resulted in patients gaining insight into their depressions,
anxieties, or other neurotic symptoms. Caution is required in using
this technique with psychotic patients having active symptoms such as
hallucinations, delusions, thinking disorders, and severe withdrawal.
Also, therapists using the technique with patients should have
personal experience with it first. It is suggested that if a patient
is sufficiently motivated and has an intellectual understanding of the
process, it may be possible for him/her to use the method during
normal daily activities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all
rights reserved)
Davidson, Richard J. & Goleman, Daniel J. (1977). The role of attention in
meditation and hypnosis: A psychobiological perspective on transformations
of consciousness. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.
25(4), 1977, pp. 291-308
Abstract
Proposes a temporally based scheme for investigation of changes in
consciousness, applicable to areas such as meditation and hypnosis.
Three basic epochs are discussed: (a) before--predispositional
variables that affect response to consciousness altering techniques;
(b) during--the state effects of the particular technique; and (c)
after--the trait effects of the practice. Research is surveyed which
indicates the role of attentional processes during each of these
epochs in both meditation and hypnosis. It is noted that attentional
flexibility is a predispositional variable affecting response to both
meditation and hypnosis. The state effects of concentrative meditation
involve alterations in stimulus set, while the state effects of
hypnosis may reflect primarily response set. The trait effects
elicited by meditation depend critically on the psychobiological
systems called into play. Evidence is discussed which suggests that
concentrative meditation shares with relaxation an autonomic
quiescence but, in addition, enhances some attentional skills. A
mindfulness technique involving the adoption of a particular
attentional stance toward all objects of awareness appears to enhance
cortical specificity, but a concentration technique does not. Some
implications of attentional self-regulation are discussed. (German,
French & Spanish summaries) (69 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c)
Long-time readers of the NY Times will remember that Daniel Goleman
provide regular columns on psychological issues as well as promoting
meditation as a personal growth technique (Goleman has published
a variety of books on meditation and various aspects of emotional
intelligence -- look him up on Amazon).
So, there is a significant amount of literature to wade through if one
is really interested in the concept of mindfulness from a psychological
perspective though one should probably expect the quality of research
and theory to be uneven. What do we really know about mindfulness
from a scientific perspective? Probably is hard to say, meaning, it is
like many different topics in psychology (of course, for people who
don't believe in science, this is likely to be an irrelevant point).
-Mike Palij
New York University
[email protected]
On Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:26:15 -0700, David T Wasieleski wrote:
>One of the reasons the concept is taking off in Western CBT approaches
>is that it was used by Marsha Linehan in her approach with Borderline
>Personality Disorder patients called Dialectical Behavior Therapy. DBT
>is based on a series of dialectics, or seeming contradictions, the
>primary one being emphasis on both acceptance and need for change.
>The approach also involves skills training to enable patients to better
>manage stressful events and their own difficulties with emotional
>dysregulation. Mindfulness, being in the moment rather than projecting
>ahead to look at anxiety-provoking implications, is one of the major
>skills taught in DBT.
> My clinical 2 cents.
>David W.
Michael Smith wrote:
>I would disagree that mindfulness is a meditation technique. Rather, my
>understanding of it is that it is a state of mind required of and acquired
>through 'standard' zen or more traditional branches of Buddhist
>meditation. >It could be described as a kind of meta-awareness of where
>one's >concentration is focused and is a necessary step toward and
>condition of the >enlightenment experience.
>
>--Mike
>
>On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 11:12 AM, Paul Okami wrote:
>> Mindfulness is not "new agey" although some people who are
>> promoting it for one reason or another (often financial in nature) may be.
>>
>> Mindfulness is a meditation technique first described by the Buddha
>>(Gotama Siddhartha) in a Pali sutta highly likely to be an accurate
>>record of his actual teaching (see scholarship on Indian Buddhism).
>>Although the original teaching included the component of "insight"
>>(seeing the world as it actually is), modern Western mindfulness
>>meditation techniques generally focus on a more basic component
>>of Buddhist meditation that fosters relaxed attention to the moment
>>and reduces judgmntalism. The same sort of clinical trials which test
>>psychotherapy techniques have been applied to Mindfulness-Based
>>Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (MBCBT) with good results--if
>> you believe those sorts of studies.
>>
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
Michael Britt wrote:
>> As it turns out, I don't live very far from a well-known, new-agey
>> place called The Omega Institute. I've thought about interviewing
>> some of the speakers who come there, but the kinds of workshops
>> they have are often "out in left field" (you know, energy medicine type
>> of thing) so I haven't. I'm just curious about this mindfulness thing
>> that seems to be getting popular.
>>
>> Has anyone heard about it? I hadn't heard that it was "being
>> introduced into school curriculums" as they say. Here is the description
>> from Omega:
>> ----------
>> Mindfulness,
>> a meditative technique that fosters inner calm and a sense of
>> well-being, is being introduced into school curriculums by an innovative
>> group of leaders in mindfulness practice and education. The results are
>> promising for both the children and those who work with them.
>>
>> During this weekend mindfulness retreat for teachers, administrators,
>> child care providers, family therapists, and parents-you will experience
>> relief from stress and find emotional balance for yourself while learning
>> practical ways to teach children mindfulness techniques that can help
>> them manage the challenges of growing up.
---
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