Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in: Mindfulness 5/2015

25-10-2014 | ORIGINAL PAPER

The Head and the Heart: Effects of Understanding and Experiencing Lovingkindness on Attitudes Toward the Self and Others

Auteurs: Yoona Kang, Jeremy R. Gray, John F. Dovidio

Gepubliceerd in: Mindfulness | Uitgave 5/2015

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

Abstract

Formation and maintenance of compassionate and loving attitudes toward the self and others is essential for adaptive social functioning. In this study, we use lovingkindness meditation to enhance positive attitudes toward the self and others. Meditation-based programs often include several components for which specific effects and dynamics are largely unknown, precluding conclusive support for their effectiveness. The present study tested actions underlying two main components of lovingkindness meditation programs: discussion and meditation. Discussion focuses on a conceptual understanding of lovingkindness, whereas meditation focuses on direct experiences and cultivation of lovingkindness. Participants (n = 54) were randomly assigned either to attend a 6-week lovingkindness discussion course or to be waitlisted for 6 weeks, both followed by attending a 6-week lovingkindness meditation course. Attending the lovingkindness discussion course alone had beneficial effects on attitudes toward the self, but not others. Attending the lovingkindness meditation course had additional positive impacts on attitudes toward the self and others. These findings suggest that understanding ideas of lovingkindness through knowledge-based discussion without meditation may be sufficient to create positive changes in the view of self. However, for more comprehensive changes in attitude toward others, direct experiences of lovingkindness through meditation may be necessary.
Literatuur
go back to reference Bargh, J. A., Chen, M., & Burrow, L. (1996). Automaticity of social behavior: Direct effects of trait construct and stereotype activation on action. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71(2), 230–244. Bargh, J. A., Chen, M., & Burrow, L. (1996). Automaticity of social behavior: Direct effects of trait construct and stereotype activation on action. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71(2), 230–244.
go back to reference Bargh, J. A., Gollwitzer, P. M., Lee-Chai, A., Barndollar, K., & Trötschel, R. (2001). The automated will: Nonconscious activation and pursuit of behavioral goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 1014–1027. Bargh, J. A., Gollwitzer, P. M., Lee-Chai, A., Barndollar, K., & Trötschel, R. (2001). The automated will: Nonconscious activation and pursuit of behavioral goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 1014–1027.
go back to reference Batson, C. D. (2014). The altruism question: toward a social-psychological answer. New York: Psychology Press. Batson, C. D. (2014). The altruism question: toward a social-psychological answer. New York: Psychology Press.
go back to reference Brewer, J. A., Mallik, S., Babuscio, T. A., Nich, C., Johnson, H. E., Deleone, C. M., Minnix-Cotton, C. A., Byrne, S. A., Kober, H., Weinstein, A. J., Carroll, K. M., & Rounsaville, B. J. (2011). Mindfulness training for smoking cessation: results from a randomized controlled trial. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 119(1), 72–80.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Brewer, J. A., Mallik, S., Babuscio, T. A., Nich, C., Johnson, H. E., Deleone, C. M., Minnix-Cotton, C. A., Byrne, S. A., Kober, H., Weinstein, A. J., Carroll, K. M., & Rounsaville, B. J. (2011). Mindfulness training for smoking cessation: results from a randomized controlled trial. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 119(1), 72–80.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Carson, J. W., Keefe, F. J., Lynch, T. R., Carson, K. M., Goli, V., Fras, A. M., & Thorp, S. R. (2005). Loving-kindness meditation for chronic low back pain results from a pilot trial. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 23(3), 287–304.CrossRefPubMed Carson, J. W., Keefe, F. J., Lynch, T. R., Carson, K. M., Goli, V., Fras, A. M., & Thorp, S. R. (2005). Loving-kindness meditation for chronic low back pain results from a pilot trial. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 23(3), 287–304.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Depue, R. A., & Morrone-Strupinsky, J. V. (2005). A neurobehavioral model of affiliative bonding: Implications for conceptualizing a human trait of affiliation. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 28(3), 313–349.PubMed Depue, R. A., & Morrone-Strupinsky, J. V. (2005). A neurobehavioral model of affiliative bonding: Implications for conceptualizing a human trait of affiliation. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 28(3), 313–349.PubMed
go back to reference Desbordes, G., Negi, L. T., Pace, T. W. W., Wallace, A., Raison, C. L., & Schwartz, E. L. (2012). Effects of mindful-attention and compassion meditation training on amygdala response to emotional stimuli in an ordinary, non-meditative state. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6, 1–15. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2012.00292.CrossRef Desbordes, G., Negi, L. T., Pace, T. W. W., Wallace, A., Raison, C. L., & Schwartz, E. L. (2012). Effects of mindful-attention and compassion meditation training on amygdala response to emotional stimuli in an ordinary, non-meditative state. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6, 1–15. doi:10.​3389/​fnhum.​2012.​00292.CrossRef
go back to reference Devine, P. G. (1989). Stereotypes and prejudice: Their automatic and controlled components. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56(1), 5–18. Devine, P. G. (1989). Stereotypes and prejudice: Their automatic and controlled components. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56(1), 5–18.
go back to reference Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(5), 1045–1062.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(5), 1045–1062.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Gilbert, P. (2009a). The compassionate mind. London: Constable. Gilbert, P. (2009a). The compassionate mind. London: Constable.
go back to reference Gilbert, P. (2009b). Introducing compassion-focused therapy. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 15(3), 199–208.CrossRef Gilbert, P. (2009b). Introducing compassion-focused therapy. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 15(3), 199–208.CrossRef
go back to reference Gilbert, P., & Procter, S. (2006). Compassionate mind training for people with high shame and self–criticism: overview and pilot study of a group therapy approach. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 13(6), 353–379.CrossRef Gilbert, P., & Procter, S. (2006). Compassionate mind training for people with high shame and self–criticism: overview and pilot study of a group therapy approach. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 13(6), 353–379.CrossRef
go back to reference Gilbert, P., McEwan, K., Gibbons, L., Chotai, S., Duarte, J., & Matos, M. (2012). Fears of compassion and happiness in relation to alexithymia, mindfulness and self-criticism. Psychology and Psychotherapy, 84, 239–255. doi:10.1348/147608310X526511.CrossRef Gilbert, P., McEwan, K., Gibbons, L., Chotai, S., Duarte, J., & Matos, M. (2012). Fears of compassion and happiness in relation to alexithymia, mindfulness and self-criticism. Psychology and Psychotherapy, 84, 239–255. doi:10.​1348/​147608310X526511​.CrossRef
go back to reference Gregg, A. P., Seibt, B., & Banaji, M. R. (2006). Easier done than undone: asymmetry in the malleability of implicit preferences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(1), 1–20.CrossRefPubMed Gregg, A. P., Seibt, B., & Banaji, M. R. (2006). Easier done than undone: asymmetry in the malleability of implicit preferences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(1), 1–20.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Hewstone, M. E., & Brown, R. E. (1986). Contact and conflict in intergroup encounters. Oxford: Blackwell. Hewstone, M. E., & Brown, R. E. (1986). Contact and conflict in intergroup encounters. Oxford: Blackwell.
go back to reference Hutcherson, C. A., Seppala, E. M., & Gross, J. J. (2008). Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. Emotion, 8(5), 720–724.CrossRefPubMed Hutcherson, C. A., Seppala, E. M., & Gross, J. J. (2008). Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. Emotion, 8(5), 720–724.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Jazaieri, H., Jinpa, G. T., McGonigal, K., Rosenberg, E. L., Finkelstein, J., Simon-Thomas, E., Cullen, M., Doty, J. R., Gross, J. J., & Goldin, P. R. (2013). Enhancing compassion: a randomized controlled trial of a compassion cultivation training program. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14(4), 1113–1126.CrossRef Jazaieri, H., Jinpa, G. T., McGonigal, K., Rosenberg, E. L., Finkelstein, J., Simon-Thomas, E., Cullen, M., Doty, J. R., Gross, J. J., & Goldin, P. R. (2013). Enhancing compassion: a randomized controlled trial of a compassion cultivation training program. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14(4), 1113–1126.CrossRef
go back to reference Kang, Y., Gray, J. R., & Dovidio, J. F. (2013a). The nondiscriminating heart: lovingkindness meditation training decreases implicit intergroup bias. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 143(3), 1306–1313. doi:10.1037/a0034150.CrossRef Kang, Y., Gray, J. R., & Dovidio, J. F. (2013a). The nondiscriminating heart: lovingkindness meditation training decreases implicit intergroup bias. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 143(3), 1306–1313. doi:10.​1037/​a0034150.CrossRef
go back to reference Kang, Y., Gruber, J., & Gray, J. R. (2013b). Mindfulness and de-automatization. Emotion Review, 5(2), 192–201.CrossRef Kang, Y., Gruber, J., & Gray, J. R. (2013b). Mindfulness and de-automatization. Emotion Review, 5(2), 192–201.CrossRef
go back to reference Kang, Y., Gruber, J., & Gray, J. R. (2014). Deautomatization of Cognitive and Emotional Life. The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Mindfulness, 1, 168. Kang, Y., Gruber, J., & Gray, J. R. (2014). Deautomatization of Cognitive and Emotional Life. The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Mindfulness, 1, 168.
go back to reference Kawakami, K., Dovidio, J. F., Moll, J., Hermsen, S., & Russin, A. (2000). Just say no (to stereotyping): effects of training in the negation of stereotypic associations on stereotype activation. Journal of personality and social psychology, 78(5), 871. Kawakami, K., Dovidio, J. F., Moll, J., Hermsen, S., & Russin, A. (2000). Just say no (to stereotyping): effects of training in the negation of stereotypic associations on stereotype activation. Journal of personality and social psychology, 78(5), 871.
go back to reference Klimecki, O. M., Leiberg, S., Lamm, C., & Singer, T. (2013). Functional neural plasticity and associated changes in positive affect after compassion training. Cerebral Cortex, 23(7), 1552–1561.CrossRefPubMed Klimecki, O. M., Leiberg, S., Lamm, C., & Singer, T. (2013). Functional neural plasticity and associated changes in positive affect after compassion training. Cerebral Cortex, 23(7), 1552–1561.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Kraus, S., & Sears, S. (2009). Measuring the immeasurables: development and initial validation of the Self-Other Four Immeasurables (SOFI) scale based on Buddhist teachings on loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. Social Indicators Research, 92(1), 169–181.CrossRef Kraus, S., & Sears, S. (2009). Measuring the immeasurables: development and initial validation of the Self-Other Four Immeasurables (SOFI) scale based on Buddhist teachings on loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. Social Indicators Research, 92(1), 169–181.CrossRef
go back to reference Lepore, L., & Brown, R. (1997). Category and stereotype activation: Is prejudice inevitable?. Journal of personality and social psychology, 72(2), 275. Lepore, L., & Brown, R. (1997). Category and stereotype activation: Is prejudice inevitable?. Journal of personality and social psychology, 72(2), 275.
go back to reference Moskowitz, G. B., & Ignarri, C. (2009). Implicit volition and stereotype control. European Review of Social Psychology, 20(1), 97–145. Moskowitz, G. B., & Ignarri, C. (2009). Implicit volition and stereotype control. European Review of Social Psychology, 20(1), 97–145.
go back to reference Neff, K. D. (2003a). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223–250.CrossRef Neff, K. D. (2003a). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223–250.CrossRef
go back to reference Neff, K. (2003b). Self-compassion: an alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2(2), 85–101.CrossRef Neff, K. (2003b). Self-compassion: an alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2(2), 85–101.CrossRef
go back to reference Rothbart, M., & John, O. P. (1985). Social categorization and behavioral episodes: a cognitive analysis of the effects of intergroup contact. Journal of Social Issues, 41(3), 81–104.CrossRef Rothbart, M., & John, O. P. (1985). Social categorization and behavioral episodes: a cognitive analysis of the effects of intergroup contact. Journal of Social Issues, 41(3), 81–104.CrossRef
go back to reference Rydell, R. J., & McConnell, A. R. (2006). Understanding implicit and explicit attitude change: a systems of reasoning analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91(6), 995–1008.CrossRefPubMed Rydell, R. J., & McConnell, A. R. (2006). Understanding implicit and explicit attitude change: a systems of reasoning analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91(6), 995–1008.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Weng, H. Y., Fox, A. S., Shackman, A. J., Stodola, D. E., Caldwell, J. Z., Olson, M. C., et al. (2013). Compassion training alters altruism and neural responses to suffering. Psychological science, 24(7), 1171–1180. Weng, H. Y., Fox, A. S., Shackman, A. J., Stodola, D. E., Caldwell, J. Z., Olson, M. C., et al. (2013). Compassion training alters altruism and neural responses to suffering. Psychological science, 24(7), 1171–1180.
Metagegevens
Titel
The Head and the Heart: Effects of Understanding and Experiencing Lovingkindness on Attitudes Toward the Self and Others
Auteurs
Yoona Kang
Jeremy R. Gray
John F. Dovidio
Publicatiedatum
25-10-2014
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Mindfulness / Uitgave 5/2015
Print ISSN: 1868-8527
Elektronisch ISSN: 1868-8535
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-014-0355-6

Andere artikelen Uitgave 5/2015

Mindfulness 5/2015 Naar de uitgave