Sept 23 - ch 5

Question 1

According to Langer, what is necessary to understand mindfulness?

Answer 1

have an active and effortful mode of conscious awareness

no automatic habitual mode where information is cognitive processing

no historical connections

focus on external environment

Question 2

According to Langer’s model of mindfulness, what is mindlessness?

Answer 2

automatic, superficial and habitual cognitive processing by:
repeated practice
reliance on premature cognitive commitments or mindsets
focus journey not destination
how it feels

Question 3

What contributes to mindlessness?

Answer 3

repeated practice
reliance on premature cognitive commitments or mindsets
focus journey not destination
how it feels

Question 3

How can we work to become more mindful (5 strategies)

Answer 3

work on appreciating more than one view

mindful of our tendency of drawing from the context to interpret our situation (spit and drink vs swallow)

focus on process more than outcome to reduce suffering

Stay curious

Express gratitude

Question 4

What are some cognitive distortions we tend to engage in?

Answer 4

we stick to rigid categories

failure to consider context and situation (racism, stereotypes) -> all or nothing thinking

discounting the positives -> beautiful snow vs. cold and dangerous

Question 5

compare and contrast Shapiro’s and Langer’s models of mindfulness

Answer 5

shapiro theory
- rooted buddhism
- embrace meditation practices
- meta cognition
- more therapeutic focus on physical and psychological wellbeing
- awareness of internal and external stimuli

langers theory
-rooted in western science
- no incorporation of meditation
- state of mind
- more focused on cognitive outcomes
- awareness of external stimuli