The Buddhist Doctrine of Not-Self: Implications for Psychological Approaches to Anxiety

Buchanan, Bennett

The Buddhist Doctrine of Not-Self: Implications for Psychological Approaches to Anxiety

Persistent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/10456/26427

Author(s)

Buchanan, Bennett

Date Issued

May 8, 2012

Abstract

The effect of expectation on anxiety reduction, mood disturbance, and level of mindfulness in a secular mindfulness meditation practice was investigated. Fifty-four undergraduate students participated in three 20-minute mindfulness meditation sessions over the course of a week. In one condition, 28 participants were read a primer which instilled an expectation that each participant would achieve anxiety reduction as a result of the mindfulness meditations. In a second condition, 26 participants were read a primer which did not create expectations for anxiety reducing benefits. A two-way mixed ANOVA was carried out to test the hypothesis that participants who have expectations for anxiety reducing effects would show a lesser reduction in anxiety. Although the mindfulness meditation sessions did significantly reduce anxiety and mood disturbance, and increase mindfulness level, there were no significant differences in change between the conditions. Results are discussed with regard to the practical implications of the research, the methodological limitations, and the directions for future research into the effects of expectation on mindfulness meditation.

Honors

Psychology, 2012

Religious Studies, 2012

First Reader(s)

Olson, Carl