Reconstructing and deconstructing the self: cognitive mechanisms in meditation practice

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Contemplative Science
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Psychological processes, particularly those concerning the self, are crucial for human suffering and flourishing.
• Buddhism and humanistic traditions utilize meditation to regulate these self-related processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel classification system for meditation styles.
• To categorize meditation into attentional, constructive, and deconstructive families based on cognitive mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Building on prior research, this study develops a new categorization framework for meditation practices.
• The classification is based on the primary cognitive mechanisms targeted by each meditation style.

Main Results:

• Meditation styles are categorized into attentional, constructive, and deconstructive families.
• Key mechanisms like meta-awareness, perspective-taking, cognitive reappraisal, and self-inquiry are linked to specific meditation families.
• These mechanisms may target experiential fusion, maladaptive self-schemas, and cognitive reification.

Conclusions:

• The proposed classification system offers a novel framework for understanding meditation's cognitive underpinnings.
• Identifying specific mechanisms within meditation families can inform therapeutic interventions for psychological distress and enhance well-being.