Potential negative consequences of mindfulness in the moral domain

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Potential negative consequences of mindfulness in the moral domain. / Schindler, Simon; Pfattheicher, Stefan; Reinhard, Marc André.

In: European Journal of Social Psychology, Vol. 49, No. 5, 08.2019, p. 1055-1069.

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

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Schindler S, Pfattheicher S, Reinhard MA. Potential negative consequences of mindfulness in the moral domain. European Journal of Social Psychology. 2019 Aug;49(5):1055-1069. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2570

Bibtex

@article{f8527ca1220543c4a6d19901bc441cab,
title = "Potential negative consequences of mindfulness in the moral domain",
abstract = "Mindfulness is a state of paying conscious and nonjudgmental attention to present-moment experiences. Previous research relates this state to more effective emotion regulation and less emotion reactivity. We therefore hypothesized an attenuating effect of a mindfulness exercise on moral reactions that usually results from a bad conscience when having caused harm. Across five studies, we experimentally induced mindfulness via a short breathing exercise and then assessed harm-based moral reactions. As hypothesized, participants in the mindfulness (vs. control) exercise condition showed (i) attenuated repair intentions after having read a scenario in which participants caused harm to a friend (Study 3) and (ii) attenuated intentions to change harm-causing eating habits (Study 4). Results of Studies 1, 2 and 5 did not provide evidence for our hypothesis. A following meta-analysis across all five studies yielded an overall significant effect of mindfulness in the harm-condition, providing preliminary evidence for a potential downside to mindfulness.",
keywords = "emotion regulation, meditation, mindfulness, moral reactions, Psychology",
author = "Simon Schindler and Stefan Pfattheicher and Reinhard, {Marc Andr{\'e}}",
year = "2019",
month = aug,
doi = "10.1002/ejsp.2570",
language = "English",
volume = "49",
pages = "1055--1069",
journal = "European Journal of Social Psychology",
issn = "0046-2772",
publisher = "John Wiley & Sons Inc.",
number = "5",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Potential negative consequences of mindfulness in the moral domain

AU - Schindler, Simon

AU - Pfattheicher, Stefan

AU - Reinhard, Marc André

PY - 2019/8

Y1 - 2019/8

N2 - Mindfulness is a state of paying conscious and nonjudgmental attention to present-moment experiences. Previous research relates this state to more effective emotion regulation and less emotion reactivity. We therefore hypothesized an attenuating effect of a mindfulness exercise on moral reactions that usually results from a bad conscience when having caused harm. Across five studies, we experimentally induced mindfulness via a short breathing exercise and then assessed harm-based moral reactions. As hypothesized, participants in the mindfulness (vs. control) exercise condition showed (i) attenuated repair intentions after having read a scenario in which participants caused harm to a friend (Study 3) and (ii) attenuated intentions to change harm-causing eating habits (Study 4). Results of Studies 1, 2 and 5 did not provide evidence for our hypothesis. A following meta-analysis across all five studies yielded an overall significant effect of mindfulness in the harm-condition, providing preliminary evidence for a potential downside to mindfulness.

AB - Mindfulness is a state of paying conscious and nonjudgmental attention to present-moment experiences. Previous research relates this state to more effective emotion regulation and less emotion reactivity. We therefore hypothesized an attenuating effect of a mindfulness exercise on moral reactions that usually results from a bad conscience when having caused harm. Across five studies, we experimentally induced mindfulness via a short breathing exercise and then assessed harm-based moral reactions. As hypothesized, participants in the mindfulness (vs. control) exercise condition showed (i) attenuated repair intentions after having read a scenario in which participants caused harm to a friend (Study 3) and (ii) attenuated intentions to change harm-causing eating habits (Study 4). Results of Studies 1, 2 and 5 did not provide evidence for our hypothesis. A following meta-analysis across all five studies yielded an overall significant effect of mindfulness in the harm-condition, providing preliminary evidence for a potential downside to mindfulness.

KW - emotion regulation

KW - meditation

KW - mindfulness

KW - moral reactions

KW - Psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068660604&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/ejsp.2570

DO - 10.1002/ejsp.2570

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85068660604

VL - 49

SP - 1055

EP - 1069

JO - European Journal of Social Psychology

JF - European Journal of Social Psychology

SN - 0046-2772

IS - 5

ER -

DOI