Don’t bite my finger, look where I am pointing (McCullogh).
Abstract
In this critical analysis, we discuss the construct of mindfulness and address a number of theoretical inconsistencies and potential practical consequences of mindfulness-based clinical practices. We argue that mindfulness practices are potentially powerful psychological interventions that should be well circumscribed (1) to assure clinical safety and access to the best available clinical practices and (2) used as part of a multi-component intervention or as a stand-alone treatment, particularly when empirically supported treatments such as cognitive–behavioral therapies have not achieved desired outcomes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benson, H., & Klipper, M. Z. (2000). The relaxation response. New York: HarperTorch.
Bohlmeijer, E., Prenger, R., Taal, E., & Cuijpers, P. (2010). The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy on mental health of adults with chronic medical disease: A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 68, 539–544.
Brown, K. W., Goodman, R. J., & Inzlicht, M. (2013). Dispositional mindfulness and the attenuation of neural responses to emotional stimuli. Scan, 8, 93–99.
Chiesa, A., & Serreti, A. (2009). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for stress management in healthy people: A review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 5, 593–600.
Chiesa, A., & Serretti, A. (2011). Mindfulness based cognitive therapy for psychiatric disorders. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 187, 441–453.
Costa, P. T, Jr, & McCrae, R. R. (1992). Revised NEO personality inventory (NEO PI-R) and NEO five-factor inventory (NEO-FFI): Professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
David, D., & Hofmann, S. G. (2013). Another error of Descartes? Implications for the “third-wave” cognitive–behavioral therapy. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies, 13, 115–124.
David, D., Lynn, S. J., & Das, S. L. (2013). Self-acceptance in Buddhism and rational-emotive and cognitive–behavior therapy. In M. Bernad (Ed.), The strength of self-acceptance. Theory, practice and research. New York: Springer.
David, D., Lynn, A., & Ellis, A. (Eds.). (2010). Rational and irrational beliefs in human functioning and disturbances; Implication for research, theory, and practice. New York: Oxford University Press.
Davidson, R. J. (1994). Asymmetric brain function, affective style, and psychopathology: The role of early experience and plasticity. Development and Psychopathology, 6, 741–758.
Ebert, J., & Sedlmeier, P. (2012). The effects of mindfulness meditation: A meta-analysis. Mindfulness, 3, 174–189.
Ellis, A. (1994). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy: Comprehensive method of treating human disturbances: Revised and updated. New York, NY: Citadel Press.
Giluk, T. (2009). Mindfulness, big five personality, and affect: A meta-analysis. Personality and Individual Differences, 47, 805–811.
Goyal, M. G., Singh, S., Sibinga, E. M., Gould, N. F., Rowland-Seymour, A., Sharma, R., et al. (2014). Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being. A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine, 174(3), 357–368. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018.
Grossman, P., Niemann, L., Schmidt, S., & Walach, H. (2004). Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health benefits. A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 57, 35–43.
Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., Witt, A. A., & Oh, D. (2010). The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 169–183. doi:10.1037/a0018555.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1982). An outpatient program in behavioral medicine for chronic pain patients based on the practice of mindfulness meditation: Theoretical considerations and preliminary results. General Hospital Psychiatry, 4, 33–47.
Lazarus, R. S. (1991). Emotion and adaptation. New York: Oxford University Press.
Linehan, M. M. (2000). Commentary on innovations in dialectical behavior therapy. Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy, 7, 478–481.
Mental Health. A Report of the Surgeon General. (1999). http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/ps/retrieve/ResourceMetadata/NNBBHS. Accessed 15 August 2013 (Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Public Health Service)
Nyklicek, I., & Kuijpers, K. F. (2008). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention on psychological well-being and quality of life: Is increased mindfulness indeed the mechanism? Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 35, 331–340.
Piet, J., & Hougaard, E. (2011). The effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for prevention of relapse in recurrent major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 31, 1032–1040.
Russell, J. (1980). A circumplex model of affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 1161–1178.
Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2012). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: A new approach to preventing relapse. New York: Guilford.
Tiba, A., & Szentagotai, A. (2005). Positive emotions and irrational beliefs. Dysfunctional positive emotions in healthy individuals. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies, 5, 53–72.
Toneatto, T., & Nguyen, L. (2007). Does mindfulness meditation improve anxiety and mood symptoms? A review of the controlled research. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 52, 260–266.
Yerkes, R. M., & Dodson, J. D. (1908). The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit-formation. Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology, 18, 459–482.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
David, D. Some Concerns About the Psychological Implications of Mindfulness: A Critical Analysis. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 32, 313–324 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-014-0198-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-014-0198-z