Studying the Effects of Meditation

Modern meditation research has progressed over the past fifty years through partly overlapping periods. Initially emphasizing physiological measurement and secular adaptations, the field expanded to link meditation to numerous health and well-being outcomes, with a focus on mindfulness as a unique psychosocial goal. Advances in empirical measurement, including physiological and questionnaire-based tools, accompanied growing public, corporate, and governmental interest. Concerns arose about the abandonment of ethical foundations and cultural context, leading to initial moves toward greater inclusiveness and integration of diverse methods and traditional perspectives. The chapter traces the evolving interplay between dominant conceptions of meditative practices under scientific study and critiques of those conceptions, research questions, study designs, measurement instruments, and public reception.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract This chapter traces the history of modern meditation research. Meditation is conceptualized primarily as a seated practice for systematically training attention. Historically present in every major religion, meditation was traditionally used for spiritual purposes and usually accompanied by ancillary practices, such as spiritual fellowship. This chapter traces the dynamics and evolving interplay between dominant conceptions and forms of meditative practices under scientific study, as well as critiques of those conceptions, research questions, study designs, measurement instruments, and public reception and application. It describes how developments in each of these spheres have at different times opened up new lines of research, sometimes transforming other dimensions of ongoing research and practice. For the past fifty years, modern meditation research has progressed through partly overlapping periods that emphasized physiological measurement and secular adaptations; links to numerous health and well-being outcomes; emphasis on a sui generis psychosocial goal (mindfulness); advances in physiological and questionnaire-based empirical measurement; expansion of public, corporate, and governmental interest; increased concerns about abandonment of ethical bases and cultural context; and initial moves toward greater inclusiveness and integration of diverse methods and traditional perspectives.