Effectiveness and Ethical Issues

• Effectiveness:

  • Scientific evidence to support the benefits
  • Holzel et al- meditating for 30 minutes each day can improve the density of grey matter in areas associated with memory, stress and empathy.
  • Suggests that MF cab bring out positive changes in the physiology of the brain and can help with emotional states such as stress as well as help improve memory.
  • Not everybody has the characteristics needed to do meditation, to experience success you already need to be a calm and patient person.
• Effectiveness:

  • MBSR can have positive effects on our immune system as well as our mood.
  • Davidson et al- 25 healthy employees who completed 8 week programme had increased activity in areas of the brain associated with +ve emotions compared to control group of 16 people. MBSR group also produced more antibodies in response to flu jab compared to control group.
  • Quantifiable and measurable benefits to both physical and mental health from taking part in mindfulness-based courses.
  • Only effective when done in group settings, done alone is weak.
• Effectiveness:

  • May be most effective when used in conjunction with CBT rather than as therapy on its own.
  • MBCT- alter process of thinking and relationship with their thoughts, rather than just challenging context of thoughts. Teasdale- 8 week course of MBCT significantly reduced depression for people who had 3 or more experiences of depression, compared to patients who had treatment as usual.
  • Problematic- suggests that mindfulness alone may not be as effective as when it is combined with other more traditional forms of therapy. MBCT may only benefit certain people.
• Ethical Issues:

  • Doesn't involve dragging up the past and so shouldn't provoke anxiety causing thoughts and memories.
  • Unlike psychodynamic, doesn't involve attributing current issues to past events. Unlike CBT doesn't aim to challenge and change thought processes but rather to encourage an awareness and acceptance of thoughts.
  • MF is a much more gentle approach to therapy, avoiding issues of anxiety and feelings of guilt associated with other therapists.
• Ethical:

  • Clients may not be fully informed about the roots of mindfulness.
  • Key feature includes the practice of meditation. Is rooted in the Buddhist religion and therefore people should be aware that they are engaging in a form of religious practice.
  • Practicing meditation may conflict with an individual's own religious or moral beliefs and so they should fully be informed of the links to Buddhism before engaging in MF.
• Ethical:

  • MF can lead to people becoming more moral in other aspects of their life.
  • Ruedy and Schweitzer found that people who were proficient in MF were les likely to cheat on a task and more likely to uphold ethical standards in a decision-making process.
  • Suggests that improving our state of mind through MF can bring benefits to our approach to life.
  • However, it is difficult to establish cause and effect. It could be that people with a higher sense of morality to start with are likely to commit themselves to developing their level of mindfulness