Meditation and Positive Psychology
The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology July 30, 2009 DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195187243.013.0057 (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 the scientific community has largely ignored meditation's original purposes of uncovering positive qualities and catalyzing internal potential for healing, and highlights pioneering research that explores these positive effects. |
Abstract
Mental health, once defined in terms of absence of illness, has gradually become understood in a more holistic way, which also includes the positive qualities that help people flourish. This evolving definition of mental health has led to an exploration of other traditions and practices, including meditation, which for thousands of years have been devoted to developing an expanded vision of human potential. One result was the introduction of the practice of meditation into Western scientific study. However, the principal original intentions of meditation, to uncover the positive and to catalyze our internal potential for healing and development, have been largely ignored by the scientific community. Yet, a small number of researchers and theorists have explored and continue to explore the positive effects of meditation. The chapter focuses on this pioneering work.
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 14
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction effects on moral reasoning and decision making The Journal of Positive Psychology September 11, 2012
- Subjective Effects of Antidepressants The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease October 1, 2003
- UNSELF‐CONSCIOUS CONTROL: BROADENING THE NOTION OF CONTROL THROUGH EXPERIENCES OF FLOW AND WU‐WEI Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science February 23, 2011
- Using Meditation in Addiction Counseling Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling October 1, 2011
and 9 more in the library
Cites 35
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
and 30 more in the library