Mindfulness Training: Can It Create Superheroes?
Frontiers in Psychology March 26, 2019 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00613 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | mindfulness practices |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mainstream Mental health Cognitive psychology Introspection Psychological resilience Empirical research Assertion Cognition Empirical evidence Applied psychology Psychotherapist Epistemology |
| Citations | 35 |
| Key findings | A growing base of empirical literature suggests some mindfulness practitioners exhibit indicators of enhanced functioning across multiple domains, but insufficient studies of expert meditators exist. |
Abstract
With the emergence of the science of heroism there now exists both theoretical and empirical literature on the characteristics of our everyday hero. We seek to expand this inquiry and ask what could be the causes and conditions of a superhero. To address this we investigate the origins of mindfulness, Buddhist psychology and the assertion that its practitioners who have attained expertise in mindfulness practices can develop supernormal capabilities. Examining first their foundational eight "jhana" states (levels of attention) and the six consequent "abhinnas" (siddhis or special abilities) that arise from such mental mastery, we then explore any evidence that mindfulness practices have unfolded the supernormal potential of its practitioners. We found a growing base of empirical literature suggesting some practitioners exhibit indicators of enhanced functioning including elevated physical health and resistance to disease, increased immunity to aging and improved cognitive processing, greater resilience and fearlessness, more self-less and pro-social behaviors, some control over normally autonomic responses, and possibly some paranormal functionality. These improvements in normal human functioning provide some evidence that there are practices that develop these abilities, and as such we might want to consider adopting them to develop this capability. There are however insufficient studies of expert meditators and more research of adepts is called for that explores the relationship between levels of attentional skill and increases in functionality. We propose in search of the superhero, that if conventional mindfulness training can already augment mental and physical capabilities, a more serious inquiry and translation of its advanced methods into mainstream psychological theory is warranted.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 11
- Pain regulation during mindfulness meditation: Phenomenological fingerprints in novices and experts practitioners European Journal of Pain April 2, 2021
- Nondual Well-Being - The Evolution of Happiness Happiness and Wellness - Biopsychosocial and Anthropological Perspectives March 15, 2023
- Role of meditation on the essence of self in the psychological profile, quality of life and lifestyle - a comparative study. Clinics 2025
- Psychological Stages of Enlightenment IntechOpen eBooks April 22, 2025
- Creating mindful heroes: a case study with ninth grade students Frontiers in Psychology May 9, 2023
and 6 more in the library
Cites 59
- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology October 27, 2008
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
- Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 8, 2004
and 54 more in the library