The Psychology of Mindfulness

Psychology has had as two of its goals the understanding of, and relief from, human suffering. These goals have been explored in terms of abnormal functioning and therapeutic interventions. Much like the medical system, psychology has seen abnormal behaviour as signs of illness and therapies as a source of healing.

Recently, psychologists have begun to explore models of health promotion and wellness in a broader context of quality of living experiences. People are seen as being on a continuum that ranges from ill-health to enhanced levels of functioning akin to being physically fit and in shape. Much of the thinking in this area has been influenced by eastern philosophical traditions that view health promotion as part of the discipline of daily life.

There is much research, within modern psychological science, demonstrating the benefits of mindfulness practice. In the mid and late 70s Buddhist scholars influenced the thinking of a few psychologists and medical practitioners (eg. Richie Davidson, Daniel Goleman, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Jack Kornfield, to name a few) who began exploring mindfulness as a psychological construct. Given the radical materialism of the behaviourist movement, much of that work was virtually ignored until recent years. The research interests of these people has now become a growing area within health and wellness psychology, neuropsychology, cognitive sciences and medicine.

Mindfulness

The concept of mindfulness is derived from the 2500 year old tradition of meditation practices, found within the Buddhist and other spiritual practices. The definition most often cited these days comes from the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn. In his book, Wherever You Go, There You Are he defines it this way:

Lotus

The lotus is a symbol that has long been associated with Buddhist practice. It represents the purity of the human heart-mind rising up out of the mud of the material world into the sunlight of wisdom and knowing.

Neuron

As a symbol the neuron represents the action of living cells that are the basis of all our experience. While modern science has been able to identify the action of neurons within the collections of neural networks, nervous systems and anatomical regions of the brain; conscious awareness and how it arises remains a mystery. Together the lotus and the neuron represent different ways of knowing; on the one hand the western scientific tradition and on the other, the eastern contemplative tradition.