Abstract
Several models have explored the possible change mechanisms underlying mindfulness-based interventions from the perspectives of multiple disciplines, including cognitive science, affective neuroscience, clinical psychiatry, and psychology. Together, these models highlight the complexity of the change process underlying these interventions. However, no one model appears to be sufficiently comprehensive in describing the mechanistic details of this change process. In an attempt to address this gap, we propose a psychological model derived from Buddhist contemplative traditions. We use the proposed Buddhist psychological model to describe what occurs during mindfulness practice and identify specific mechanisms through which mindfulness and attention regulation practices may result in symptom reduction as well as improvements in well-being. Other explanatory models of mindfulness interventions are summarized and evaluated in the context of this model. We conclude that the comprehensive and detailed nature of the proposed model offers several advantages for understanding how mindfulness-based interventions exert their clinical benefits and that it is amenable to research investigation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baer, R. A. (2009). Self-focused attention and mechanisms of change in mindfulness-based treatment. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 38(S1), 15–20.
Bishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., et al. (2004). Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11, 230–241.
Carmody, J. (2009). Evolving conceptions of mindfulness in clinical settings. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 23, 270–280.
Carmody, J., Baer, R. A., Lykins, E. L. B., & Olendzki, N. (2009). An empirical study of the mechanisms of mindfulness in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 613–626.
Coffey, K. A., Hartman, M., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2010). Deconstructing mindfulness and constructing mental health: Understanding mindfulness and its mechanisms of action. Mindfulness, 1, 235–253.
Corcoran, K. M., & Segal, Z. V. (2008). Metacognition in depressive and anxiety disorders: Current directions. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 1, 33–44.
Davidson, R. J. (2010). Empirical explorations of mindfulness: Conceptual and methodological conundrums. Emotion, 10, 8–11.
Deyo, M., Wilson, K. A., Ong, J., & Koopman, C. (2009). Mindfulness and rumination: Does mindfulness training lead to reductions in the ruminative thinking associated with depression? Explore, 5, 265–271.
Dorjee, D. (2010). Kinds and dimensions of mindfulness: Why it is important to distinguish them. Mindfulness, 1, 152–160.
Flavell, J. H. (1976). Metacognitive aspects of problem solving. In L. B. Resnick (Ed.), The nature of intelligence (pp. 231–236). New Jersey: Erlbaum.
Fletcher, L., & Hayes, S. C. (2005). Relational frame theory, acceptance and commitment therapy, and a functional analytic definition of mindfulness. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 23, 315–336.
Fletcher, L. B., Shoendoerf, B., & Hayes, S. C. (2010). Searching for mindfulness in the brain: A process-oriented approach to examining the neural correlates of mindfulness. Mindfulness, 1, 41–63.
Fresco, D. M., Segal, Z. V., Buis, T., & Kennedy, S. (2007). Relationship of past treatment decentering and cognitive reactivity to relapse in major depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 75, 447–455.
Garland, E., Gaylord, S., & Park, J. (2009). The role of mindfulness in positive reappraisal. Explore, 5, 37–44.
Grossman, P. (2010). Mindfulness for psychologists: Paying kind attention to the perceptible. Mindfulness, 1, 87–97.
Lutz, A., Slagter, H. A., Dunne, J. D., & Davidson, R. J. (2008). Attention regulation and monitoring in meditation. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 12, 163–169.
Manna, A., Raffone, A., Perrucci, M. G., Nardo, D., Ferretty, A., Tartaro, A., et al. (2010). Neural correlates of focused attention and cognitive monitoring in meditation. Brain Research Bulletin, 82(1–2), 46–56.
Mendis, N. K. G. (2006). The Abhidhamma in practice. Retrieved 29 October 2010 from http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/mendis/wheel322.html.
Mikulas, W. (2011). Mindfulness: Significant common confusions. Mindfulness, 2, 1–7. doi:10.1007/s12671-010-0036-z.
Mahasi Sayadaw (2006). The progress of insight: A modern treatise on Buddhist Satipathana meditation. Retrieved 16 November 2010 from http://www.dharmaweb.org/index.php/The_Progress_of_Insight_by_Venerable_Mahasi_Sayadaw.
Narada Maha Thera. (1987). A manual of Abhidhamma. Malaysia: Buddhist Missionary Society.
Nyanaponika Thera (2010). Seeing things as they are. Access to Insight. Retrieved 16 December from http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nyanaponika/seeingthings.html.
Pa Auk Sayadaw (2000). Knowing and seeing. Buddha Dharma Education Association, Inc. Retrieved 16 November 2010 from www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/know-see.pdf.
Segal, Z. V., Williams, M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2002). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: A new approach to preventing relapse. New York: Guilford.
Shapiro, S. L., Carlson, L. E., Astin, J. A., & Freedman, B. (2006). Mechanisms of mindfulness. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62, 373–386.
Smith, G. T., Lykins, E., Button, D., Krietemeyer, J., Sauer, S., Walsh, E., et al. (2008). Construct validity of the five facet mindfulness questionnaire in meditating and nonmeditating samples. Assessment, 15, 329–342.
Snyder, S., & Rasmussen, T. (2009). Practicing the Jhanas: Traditional concentration meditation as presented by the Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw. Boston: Shambhala.
Teasdale, J. D., Moore, R. G., Hayhurst, H., Pope, M., Williams, S., & Segal, Z. V. (2002). Metacognitive awareness and prevention of relapse in depression: Empirical evidence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 275–287.
Teasdale, J. D., Segal, Z. V., & Williams, J. M. G. (1995). How does cognitive therapy prevent depressive relapse and why should attentional control (mindfulness) training help? Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33, 25–39.
Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1997). The healing power of the precepts. Retrieved 29 October 2010 from http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/precepts.html.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Steve Armstrong and Susan Woods for reviewing an earlier version of this manuscript and for providing insightful feedback.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12671-011-0062-5
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grabovac, A.D., Lau, M.A. & Willett, B.R. Mechanisms of Mindfulness: A Buddhist Psychological Model. Mindfulness 2, 154–166 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-011-0054-5
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-011-0054-5