Promoting Empathy and Reducing Hopelessness Using Contemplative Practices
Teaching Sociology July 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1177/0092055x221092014 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that contemplative practices can bridge sociology and humanist pedagogies to inspire empathy and hopefulness in students, and proposes two exercises to develop the sociological imagination and increase students' capacity for critical thinking, stress management, and self-reflection. |
Abstract
Contemplative practices are becoming more common in educational environments for attending to whole-student learning, fostering empathy, and promoting social justice and socially just pedagogues. This conversation explores how holistic approaches facilitate and expand the parameters of sociological pedagogy to integrate humanist pedagogies and initiate emancipatory citizenship. By building a pedagogical bridge between sociology and contemplative practices educators can help inspire empathy and hopefulness among students as they navigate the challenging topics of injustice and collective trauma. We trace the rise of contemplative practices in the United States with a focus on the emergence of “contemplative sociology” from a variety of perspectives, including Buddhist sociology and sociological mindfulness. We then explore the utility of contemplative practices in the sociological classroom combining contemplation, embodied agency, and antioppression education for student learning. We offer two exercises to consider for developing the sociological imagination and increasing students’ capacity for critical thinking, stress management, and self-reflection.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Do Contemplative Practices Promote Trauma Recovery? A Narrative Review from 2018 to 2023. Healthcare November 7, 2025
- Integrating mindfulness into the academic curriculum: A qualitative study. Journal of American College Health June 5, 2025
- Using a Contemplative Practice Intervention to Improve Educators’ Attitudes Toward Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities Behavioral Disorders October 12, 2026
- Contemplative Classrooms Empowering Youth With Mindfulness, Resilience, and Well-Being Practices Applied Mindfulness and Integrative Practices for Mental Well-Being May 6, 2026
- Contemplative Practices in a Teamwork Setting: A Preliminary Study on Mindfulness Meditations and Interpersonal Skills Mindfulness February 24, 2025
and 1 more in the library