Potential negative consequences of mindfulness in the moral domain. (6th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schindler, Simon; Pfattheicher, Stefan; Reinhard, Marc‐André
• Is Part Of: European journal of social psychology. Volume 49:Number 5(2019)
• Page Start: 1055
• Page End: 1069
• Publication Date: 2019-03-06
• Subjects: mindfulness -- meditation -- moral reactions -- emotion regulation; Social psychology -- Periodicals; 302
• DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.2570
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0046-2772

Abstract

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.