The influence of mindfulness meditation on the attributions we make about situations

Abstract

Meditation mindfulness is gaining ground in psychology study and practice due to the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions. This practice promotes the acceptance of your thoughts through nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment. This study focuses on the influence that mindfulness meditation has on the attributions that we make about situations. In this study, two independent variables were manipulated: The state of mindfulness and the belief of effectiveness of mindfulness. There were 14 dependent variables measured: Situational attribution (context, task, and bad luck), dispositional attribution (personality), prediction of future performance, prediction of successful delivery of report, perceived controllability, perceptions of motivation, perceptions of capability, attribution of blame, attribution of punishment, attribution of responsibility, mental state, awareness, non-judging,and observation. To answer the research question, a survey was conducted. The results show that the belief of effectiveness of mindfulness and the state of mindfulness influence the attributions we make about situations. Through the cultivation of nonjudgmental attention, people focus on the information that is available in the present moment, through reperceiving, which enables to take a step back from the situation, see it in other perspective and make unbiased attributions.

Date of Award	1 Feb 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Sofia Jacinto (Supervisor)