In search of mindfulness: a review and reconsideration of cultural dynamics from a cognitive perspective.
Johannes Alfons Karl, Finley Ngarangi Johnson, Luisa Bucci, Ronald Fischer
Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand May 18, 2021 DOI: 10.1080/03036758.2021.1915804 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Culture Mental health Wellbeing Predictive coding Cultural differences Ritual Stoicism Sati Te ao maori |
| Key findings | Argues that mindfulness research shows generally positive average effects but suffers from quality and mechanistic uncertainty, and proposes a predictive coding approach to reconcile functionalist and culturally relativist views. Contends that recontextualizing mindfulness within culturally relevant practices such as Stoicism and Te Ao Māori can enrich both mindfulness theory and practice. |
Abstract
We provide a critical review of mindfulness research, focusing on three core areas and questions. First, a meta-review and bibliometric analysis on mindfulness research trends identified a large number of meta-analyses published in the last 20 years, which tend to show positive effects on average, despite continuing questions on research quality, unclear pathways and uncertainty about the efficacy of individual practice components. Second, we briefly review current conceptualizations of mindfulness as both a practice and a trait (individual difference variable) and how these interpretations may align with the diverse Buddhist philosophical roots. We examine the multidimensionality of mindfulness within and across cultural contexts, which points to conflicts between bottom-up (functionalist) and top-down (culturally relativist meaning-system) interpretations. In order to reconcile these interpretations, we introduce a predictive coding approach which allows integrating bottom-up biological and individual difference dynamics with top-down normative and cultural influences. Finally, we apply these ideas to two examples of how mindfulness components might be present in different cultural practices: (a) stoic philosophy and (b) established concepts from Te Ao Māori. We argue that recontextualizing mindfulness in culturally relevant terms provides opportunities to enrich both mindfulness theory and practice, allowing for an integration of cognitive-functional and cultural relativist positions.
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 14
- The State of Dispositional Mindfulness Research Mindfulness March 18, 2022
- Exploring mindfulness interventions across cultures: a comparative meta-analysis of mindfulness interventions for athletes in Western and Eastern contexts Frontiers in Psychology October 31, 2024
- A Systematic Review on the State of the Art of Culturally Adapted Mindfulness-Based Interventions for First Nations Peoples: Cultural Adaptation, Effectiveness, and Feasibility Mindfulness September 1, 2024
- Mindfulness and CBT: a conceptual integration bridging ancient wisdom and modern cognitive theories of psychopathology. Frontiers in Psychology 2024
- The psychometric properties of the Vietnamese Version of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire BMC Psychology December 12, 2022
and 9 more in the library
Cites 18
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- The toronto mindfulness scale: Development and validation Journal of Clinical Psychology 2006
- On some definitions of mindfulness Contemporary Buddhism May 1, 2011
and 13 more in the library