Meditation in context: factors that facilitate prosocial behavior.
Current Opinion in Psychology August 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.09.011 (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 meditation is a viable approach to increasing prosocial behavior, but that its effects depend on ethical and relational contexts drawn from Buddhist traditions. Contends that future research must holistically examine the contemplative contexts that foster prosocial outcomes, since questions remain about the mechanisms and conditions under which meditation does or does not increase prosocial behavior. |
Abstract
Contemplative science experienced tremendous growth in the past five years in part through new attention to the social processes and prosocial outcomes associated with meditation. Despite this growth, questions persist about the mechanisms and contexts through which meditation increases or fails to increase prosocial behavior. In this article, I draw on Buddhist traditions and empirical efforts to understand the ethical and relational contexts that promote prosocial behavior. In summary, meditation promises a viable approach to increase prosocial behavior, but future research will require a careful, holistic examination of contemplative contexts that foster those outcomes.