Mindful Attention as a Skillful Means toward Intergroup Prosociality
Daniel R. Berry, Katie Rodriguez, Virginia Tasulis, Anna Maria Catherine Behler
PsyArXiv January 31, 2022 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/6ve9y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Selective narrative review |
|---|---|
| Key findings | Proposes that mindful attention dismantles common intrapsychic barriers to intergroup prosociality and promotes basic social cognitive processes that support it. Argues that existing evidence is limited to individual-level outcomes and calls for an integrative approach embedding mindful attention within social and other psychological interventions to enhance intergroup compassion. |
Abstract
Objectives: Mindful attention deployment has been found to have practical benefits for a range of interpersonal outcomes including prosocial action and emotion. Recently, theory has posited that contemplative training that incorporates mindful attention may enhance intergroup compassion.
Method: Here, we conduct a selective narrative review, drawing on the Buddhist concept skillful means to ask if mindful attention deployment presents an optimal starting point for intergroup compassion and action.
Results: An interdisciplinary theoretical framework is presented, which suggests that mindful attention dismantles common intrapsychic challenges to intergroup prosociality. Empirical research is described concerning cause and effect relationships between mindfulness and several outgrowths of intergroup prosociality. Specifically, mindfulness promotes basic social cognitive processes that allow intergroup prosociality to flourish.
Conclusions: While this research is promising, to date the science on this topic has been limited to individual-level outgrowths of mindfulness practice. Discussion focuses on the future of mindfulness research in intergroup prosociality and calls for an integrative approach situating mindful attention deployment within social (and other) psychological interventions to enhance intergroup compassion.