Mindfulness Flashcards
How the PA is applied to MF: authenticity of goodness and excellence
- one of the assumptions of the PA is that + human traits are as authentic as - ones
- and that individuals strive to achieve greater life fulfilment by developing their natural strength and virtues
- in line w this, MF aims to enhance a person’s positive characteristics (e.g. being optimistic)
How the PA is applied to MF: the acknowledgement of free will
- MF is based on an individual’s free will
- it’s a therapy that one chooses to engage in and helps the indiv become consciously aware of their present thoughts & feelings
- by encouraging ppl to gain control of their thoughts and emotions, they are able to exercise control (free will) over the amount of time spent on - thinking
- taking control of our feelings is central to increasing life satisfaction and contentment, therefore helping ppl move towards living a meaningful life
- MF is based on the assumption tht ppl use their free will to take control of their own mind
what is the overall aim of PA?
- the overall aim of the PA is to promote human flourishing. MF aims to help ppl develop characteristics such as our natural strengths and psychological welll being
Components of MF: gaining control of thoughts
- this is the overall aim of MF
- this component is demonstrated in a MF course run by Mind
- Week 4 of the course is called ‘getting out of autopilot’
- psychologists believe that a lot of mental problems are due to uncontrollable - automatic thinking
- this component is based on helping ppl become the driver in control of their mind rather than allowing our thoughts to run free and out of control causing us stress and anxiety
- helps us realise thoughts = transient & they do not need to dictate how we feel
Components of MF: mindfulness based stress reduction
- MBSR was developed by Jon Kabat Zinn in 1970s
- originally created to aid hospital patients
- intensive 8 week course consisting of 45 min group sessions
- after completing the course, the person should be able to build the techs they learn into everyday life
- some techniques taught include:
- meditation and mindful breathing
- body scan
- worry or urge surfing
- yoga
Components of MF: MBSR - meditation and mindful breathing
- during an MBSR course, a practitioner would usually teach ppl how meditate properly
- it includes sitting in a relaxed position but with a straight spine
- there shuld be no distraction in order to focus on bodily sensations as you breathe in and out
- if your attention starts to wonder, then you gently bring your focus back to breathing
Components of MF: MBSR - Body Scan?
- lie w ur back on the floor or a bed and close ur eyes. Move your awareness through your body, focussing on one area at a time. Stop whenever you find an area that is unusually tight or sore and focus your breath on this area until it relaxes
- you can use a calm and healing visualisation at this point as well (e.g ball of white light melting into the sore spot)
Components of MF: MBSR - worry or urge surfing?
- approach ur thoughts and feelings like ur surfing on a wave
- turn ur awareness to the warning signs of a - feeling like worry, anxiety, or anger approaching
- imagine the - emotion coming at u like a wave that gets bigger and bigger as it approaches, crests as it reaches u, and falls as it moves away
- imagine riding that wave as it passes, and let the negative emotion go w it
- make sure to celebrate it ability to let the emotion go, but acknowledge that more will come eventually and remember to ‘ride the wave’ again when they do
Components of MF: MBSR- Yoga?
- excellent way to reduce stress and practice MF as it incorporates many of the principles of MF such as having patience, and experiencing simply ‘being’ w/o the need to try and achieve something
components of MF: informal practices of MF?
- although the therap initially takes place in gr sessions under the guidance of the practitioner, one of the aims is that individuals develop the skills to engage in MF in more informal settings w/o the need for the structured settings
Evaluating the effec of MF: Scientific evidence
POINT
there is scientific evidence to support the benefits of MF
Evaluating the effec of MF: Scientific evidence
EVIDENCE
Holzel et al found that meditating for 30 mins each day can improve th density of grey matter (neurons in the brain) in areas assoc w memory, stress and empathy
Evaluating the effec of MF: Scientific evidence
EXPLAIN
this suggests that MF can bring about + changes in the physiology of the brain and can help w emotional states such as stress as well as improve memory
Evaluating the effec of MF: Scientific evidence
CONTRAST
hwvr, not everybody has the characteristsics needed to do meditation. It may be exp sucess u already need to be a calm and patient person
Evaluating the effec of MF: immune system
POINT
- there is evidence that MBSR can have a + effects on our immune system as well as our mood