Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition.
Scott R. Bishop, Mark A. Lau, Shauna L. Shapiro, Linda E. Carlson, Nicole D. Anderson, James Carmody, Zindel V. Segal, Susan Abbey, Michael Speca, Drew M. Velting, Gerald M. Devins
Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004 DOI: 10.1093/clipsy.bph077 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 6,266 |
| Key points | Proposes a two-component model of mindfulness with specific behavioral, experiential, and psychological definitions. |
Abstract
There has been substantial interest in mindfulness as an approach to reduce cognitive vulnerability to stress and emotional distress in recent years. However, thus far mindfulness has not been defined operationally. This paper describes the results of recent meetings held to establish a consensus on mindfulness and to develop conjointly a testable operational definition. We propose a two-component model of mindfulness and specify each component in terms of specific behaviors, experiential manifestations, and implicated psychological processes. We then address issues regarding temporal stability and situational specificity and speculate on the conceptual and operational distinctiveness of mindfulness. We conclude this paper by discussing implications for instrument development and briefly describing our own approach to measurement.