Você está na página 1de 10

1/3/2016

The Top 10 Insights from the Science of a Meaningful Life in 2015 | Greater Good

TheTop10InsightsfromtheScienceofaMeaningfulLifein2015
MorethanadecadeafterGreaterGoodfirststartedreportingonthescienceofcompassion,
generosity,happinesswhatwecallthescienceofameaningfullifetheresearchinour
fieldisacquiringevermorenuanceandsophistication.Newstudiesbuildonandevenre
interpretfindingsfrompreviousyears,particularlyastheirauthorsusemoreexacting
methods,withbiggerandbroaderdatasets,andconsideradditionalfactorstoexplainprior
results.
ThesenuancesareclearlyreflectedinthisyearslistofourTop10InsightsfromtheScience
ofaMeaningfulLifethefourthsuchlistcompiledbyGreaterGoodseditors.Indeed,manyof
thisyearsentriescouldbedescribedasYes,butinsights:Yes,aspriorfindingssuggest,
beingwealthyseemstomakepeoplelessgenerous,butonlywhentheyresideinplaceswith
highinequality.Yes,pursuinghappinessmakesyouunhappy,butonlyifyouliveinan
individualisticculture.Yes,Americansarelesshappythantheyusedtobe,butonlyiftheyre
overtheageof30.Thecaveatsandqualificationsabound.
Andthesearenotjustsignsofacademichairsplitting.Instead,theydemonstratethat
researchersaresharpeningtheirunderstandingoftheactualcauses,consequences,and
currentstateofhumanssocialandemotionalwellbeing.Andthat,inturn,meansthat
GreaterGoodisabletoreportonthepracticalimplicationsandpotentialapplicationsofthis
researchwithgreaterconfidenceanddetailthaneverbefore.
Todothat,ofcourse,werelyonabraintrustofsomeexcellentguidesandadvisors.In
additiontoourstaffandfacultyhereatUCBerkeleysGreaterGoodScienceCenter,we
polledmorethan150outsideexpertsinourfield,askingthemtoidentifythefindingsfrom
2015thattheyconsideredmostnovel,provocative,profound,and(potentially)enduringfrom
thescienceofameaningfullife.Fromthescoresofnominationsthatwereceived,itwas
challengingtowhittlethelistdownto10,asitalwaysis.Butaftermuchdiscussionand
debate,hereareourtopchoices.
Experiencingawemakesus,well,awesome.
Beforethisyear,therewerejustahandfulof
studieseverpublishedabouttheexperienceof
awe.Itwasoneofthoseemotionslikegratitude
andhappinessbeforeitthathadbeenneglected
asatopicworthyofseriousscientificattention.
Thatstartedtochangeinabigwaythisyear.
Severalstudiespublishedin2015suggestsome
profound,previouslyoverlookedbenefits
associatedwithawe,whichisdefinedby
researchersasfeelinglikewereinthepresenceof
somethinglargerthanourselvesbeitanaturalwonder,aworkofart,orfeatsofathleticism
oraltruismthatdefiesourunderstandingoftheworldandmakesusfeellikewerejustone
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_top_10_insights_from_the_science_of_a_meaningful_life_in_2015

1/10

1/3/2016

The Top 10 Insights from the Science of a Meaningful Life in 2015 | Greater Good

smallpartofavast,interconnecteduniverse.
Twostudiesinparticularstoodout.ApaperpublishedinAprilinthejournalEmotionlinked
awetospecialhealthbenefits.Theresearchersfoundthatpeoplewhoexperiencehighlevels
ofpositiveemotionsingeneralhadsignificantlylowerlevelsintheirbodiesofpro
inflammatorycytokines,whichareproteinsassociatedwithtype2diabetes,heartdisease,
Alzheimers,depression,andotherhealthproblems.
Closeranalysisoftheresultsrevealedthatawewastheemotionmoststronglyassociated
withlowerlevelsofcytokinesandthusbetterhealth.Infact,themorefrequentlyparticipants
reportedfeelingawe,thelowertheircytokinelevels.
Aseparatestudy,publishedinJuneintheJournalofPersonalityandSocialPsychology,
suggeststhatawemightnotonlyboostourhealthbutalsomakeusmorekindandhelpfulto
others.Inonepartofthestudy,participantseithergazedupatsometoweringeucalyptus
trees,whichinducedfeelingsofawe,orstaredupatalargebuilding.Whenapasserby(who
wasactuallyworkingwiththeresearchers)accidentallydroppedsomepensinfrontofthem,
thepeoplewhohadlookedatthetreesweresignificantlymorelikelytohelppickthepensup.
BothofthosestudieswereconductedbyateamthatincludedGreaterGoodScienceCenter
DirectorDacherKeltner,whohasbeenapioneerinthestudyofawe.Asthefieldtakesoff
andattractsmoreinterestfromotherscientists,itslikelythatnewawefindingswillmakethis
listinthefuture.
Cynicismcanhurtyourpocketbook.
Dontbesotrusting.Watchyourback.Youcant
betoocareful.Thatsthewaytogetaheadinlife,
right?
ApaperpublishedinMayintheJournalof
PersonalityandSocialPsychologycastssome
doubtonthatmentality.
Inananalysisofmorethan68,000Americansand
Europeansovernineyears,researchersatthe
UniversityofCologneinGermanyfoundthat
cynicismisntthepathtofinancialsuccess.Ifyou
arewaryoftrustingothers,worryaboutbeingtakenadvantageof,andseeothersasself
interestedanddeceitful,yourelikelytohavealowerincomenow(andinthefuture)than
peoplewitharosierviewofhumanity.
Therewasjustoneexception:Cynicismislessfinanciallydetrimentalincountrieswhereit
seemsjustifiedwherethemurderrateishigh,thegivingrateislow,andmorepeoplesee
eachotherasselfishandpredatory.Inafewcountries,cynicsactuallyearnedslightlymore
money.
Cynicalindividualsarelikelytolacktheability(orwillingness)torelyonothers,the
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_top_10_insights_from_the_science_of_a_meaningful_life_in_2015

2/10

1/3/2016

The Top 10 Insights from the Science of a Meaningful Life in 2015 | Greater Good

researchersexplain.Thatmaybehelpfulintheroughestareasoftheworld,butnotsohelpful
incivilizedsociety,wheretheymissoutonvaluableopportunitiesattainedbyaskingforhelp,
makingcompromises,andcollaborating.
Inotherwords,ifyoureacynicamongpeoplewhowouldbehappytoofferhelpandsupport,
yourebasicallyshootingyourselfinthefootagoodreasontoputalittlefaithinhumanity.
Wecanbridgepoliticaldividesbyappealingtotheothersidesmoralvalues.
Americanpoliticaldebatesseemshapedbysides
unwillingorunabletofindcommonground.
Partisanssometimesfeelintensefrustrationthat
theothersidewontbuytheir(clearlycorrect)point
ofview.However,researchbyJonathanHaidt,
JoshuaGreene,andothershassuggestedthatwe
oftenfailtorecognizehowmoralsystems
undergirdpoliticaldivisions,andthatthis
obliviousnessmayexplaintheintractabilityof
todayspoliticalclimate.
InastudypublishedthismonthinPersonalityandSocialPsychologyBulletin,Matthew
FeinbergandRobbWillerhypothesizethatpoliticaladvocatesmakeargumentsgroundedin
theirownmorality,notthevaluesofthosetheywanttopersuadewhichtheresearchers
memorablydescribeasamoralempathygap.Theyalsowonderedifargumentsappealing
tothemoralvaluesofthosetargetedforpersuasionwillbemoreeffective.
Totesttheseassumptions,theyransixstudies.Thefirsttwoasked93participantstowrite
essaysthattrypersuadetheothersidetheresultsofwhichdidindeedconfirmthe
hypothesisthatbothliberalsandconservativestendtowritefromtheirownmoralfoundations
without,apparently,consideringthemoralityoftheiropponents.
Thenextfourstudiestestedtheideathatreframingpoliticalargumentsinthemoraltermsof
theothersidewouldprovemorepersuasive.Inthethirdstudy,forexample,Feinbergand
Willerpresented288participantswithargumentsinfavorofuniversalhealthcarethatinvoked
eitherthevalueoffairness(i.e.,healthcareisarightforall)orthevalueofpurity(i.e.,sick
peoplearedisgustingandthereforeweneedtoreducesickness).Thisandsimilarstudiesdid
indeedconfirmthatarguingfrommoralfoundationsmadeadifference:Conservativeswho
heardthepurityargumentforObamacarebecamefriendliertowardit.
Inadditiontoestablishingmorelinksbetweenmoralityandpolitics,thispaperrevealsonan
empiricallevelthateffortstobridgethemoralempathygapcanpayoffinpersuasion.
Moralitycontributestopoliticalpolarizationbecausemoralconvictionsleadindividualstotake
absolutiststancesandrefusetocompromise,concludetheauthors.Ourresearchpresents
ameansforpoliticalpersuasionthat,ratherthanchallengingonesmoralvalues,incorporates
themintotheargument.(Or,perhaps,advocatesneedtodirectlyaddressthemoralityof
opponents,insteadofignoringitsimportancetotheirpoliticalpositionsorbickeringaround
specificpolicies.)
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_top_10_insights_from_the_science_of_a_meaningful_life_in_2015

3/10

1/3/2016

The Top 10 Insights from the Science of a Meaningful Life in 2015 | Greater Good

Willmoralargumentsbeeffectiveoneveryhighlychargedpoliticalissueforinstance,could
theyconvinceBernieSandersthataflattaxisafair,soundfiscalpolicy?Or,ofgreater
concerntopeopledismayedbyantiimmigrantsentimentintheUnitedStates,couldthey
persuadeDonaldTrumptowelcomepeopletotheU.S.whodontlooklikehim?Probablynot.
Buttheymayinfluenceenoughofhissupporterstomakeadifference.Nomatterwhat,its
worththetimetotrytoputyourselfintheshoesofpoliticalopponents.
Inequalitynotwealthistheenemyofgenerosity.
SomeofGreaterGoodsmostpopularand
provocativearticlesoverthepastfewyearshave
reportedonnewresearchsuggestingthatpeople
ofhighersocioeconomicstatusarelessgenerous,
lesscompassionate,andlessempathicthan
others.
Butthisyear,anewstudyofferedasignificant
twist:Theearlierresearch,itseems,mayhave
toldonlypartofanimportantandtimelystory.
Accordingtothenewstudy,publishedonlineinNovemberintheProceedingsoftheNational
AcademyofSciences(PNAS),higherincomepeoplearelessgenerousbutonlywhenthey
liveinaplacethathashighlevelsofinequality.Whenthegapbetweenrichandpoorislow,
therichmightactuallybemoregenerous.
ThoseconclusionswerebasedondatafromabignationalsurveyofUnitedStatesresidents
thatfoundthatinstateswithgreaterinequality,peoplewithhigherincomeswerelesswilling
toshareaprizewithastranger,butinstateswithlowinequality,theymorewerewilling.A
subsequentexperimentwheretheresearcherstoldpeopletheirstatehadhighorlow
inequalitysuggestedthattherichbecomemoreselfishonlywhentheybelievethattheylive
amidstgreatinequality.Theresearchersspeculatethatsbecausegreatinequalityimpelsthe
wellofftoconvincethemselvesthattheytrulydeservetheirgoodfortuneandthusdontneed
toshareit.
Thosefindingsechotheresultsfromanotherrecentstudy,publishedinOctoberinNature,in
whichresearchersmadeanunequaldistributionofresourcesamongmembersofagroup.
Thewealthiermemberswerelesslikelytocooperatewhentheinequitiesweremadevisible
whentheywerentapparent,therichwerentlesscooperative.
Sowhydidpreviousstudiessuggestthattherichwereunequivocallymoreselfish?One
possibleexplanation:ManyofthoseearlierstudieswereconductedinCalifornia,astatewith
someofthehighestinequalityinthecountry.
AccordingtothePNASstudysauthors,theirfindingsdontcontradictthepriorresearchas
muchasofferacaveattoit.Whatsmore,saysstudycoauthorRobbWillerofStanford
University,theirworkoffersmoretargetedprescriptionsforpublicpolicy.
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_top_10_insights_from_the_science_of_a_meaningful_life_in_2015

4/10

1/3/2016

The Top 10 Insights from the Science of a Meaningful Life in 2015 | Greater Good

Ifyoureconcernedabouttherelationshipbetweenincomeandgenerosity,hesays,one
waytocounteractthatistoadoptpoliciesthatpromoteequality.
Pursuinghappinessmakesyouunhappybutonlyifyouliveinanindividualistic
culture.
Americanswanttobehappy.Butsomerecent
studieshavefoundaparadox:Thepursuitof
happinesstendstomakeindividualAmericans
unhappy.
Anewstudyshedssomelightonthispeculiar
Americancontradiction,suggestingthatthe
relationshipbetweenpursuinghappinessand
decreasedwellbeing,farfrombeinguniversal,
mayactuallybeaproductofourindividualistic
culture.
BrettFord,oftheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley,teamedupwithresearchersfromaround
theworldtolookatthepursuitofhappinessinfourculturallydistinctlocations:theUnited
States,Germany,Russia,andEastAsia.Collegeundergraduateslivingineachlocation
answeredquestionnairesmeasuringtheirpsychologicalandphysicalwellbeing,their
motivationtopursuehappiness,andtheextenttowhichtheyviewedhappinessinsocial
termsmeaningthat,forthem,happinesswaslinkedtosocialengagementandhelping
others.
Fordandcolleaguesthenanalyzedthedatatofindouthowthesefactorsinteractedwithone
anotherindifferentculturalsettings.Theresults,publishedintheJournalofExperimental
Psychology,showedthatthepursuitofhappinessdidindeedleadtolesswellbeingfor
Americans,afindingthatreplicatespriorstudies.Thiswasntthecaseelsewhereintheworld.
Theimpactofcultureonthepursuitofhappinessseemstoberelatedtothewaydifferent
culturesviewhappiness,saysFord.InRussiaandEastAsia,studyparticipantswereshown
tostronglyequatehappinesswithsocialrelationshipssomethingFordsaysisinlinewith
theirmorecollectivist,orgrouporiented,cultures.InGermanyandtheUnitedStatesthis
wasntthecase,probablyaresultoftheirmoreindividualisticorientation.
Thissuggeststhatincollectivistcultures,peopleseeksocialsolutionsforbecominghappier,
saysFord.Sincesocialtiesarewellknownpredictorsofwellbeing,thismayexplainwhy
happinesspursuersinRussiaandEastAsiatendtoactuallyfeelhappier.
Theupshot?Trytofocuslessintenselyonyourdesiretobehappyandjustconcentrateon
buildingsocialrelationshipshangoutwithfriendsandfamily,seekoutsocialopportunities
whenpossible,anddeveloppracticeslikecompassionandgratitude,whichcanmakeyou
feelmoreconnectedtoothers.
OlderAmericansarebecominglesshappy.
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_top_10_insights_from_the_science_of_a_meaningful_life_in_2015

5/10

1/3/2016

The Top 10 Insights from the Science of a Meaningful Life in 2015 | Greater Good

Americansocietyhasundergonesignificant
upheavalsinthepastfewdecades,fromthe
inventionofsocialmediatotheglobalizationofthe
economy.Wehavemoremoney,biggerhomes,
andmoreeducation,butalsogreaterinequality.
Haveallthesechangesmadeushappier?
Onlysomeofus,suggestsastudypublishedthis
yearinthejournalSocialPsychologicaland
PersonalityScience.Accordingtosurvey
responsesfrom1.3millionpeoplespanning1972
to2014,todaysAmericanadolescentsarehappier
thanteenswereinthepast,butadultsoverage30havebecomelesshappy.
Notethatthisisntalongitudinalstudy,whenresearchersfollowthesameindividualsover
timeinstead,thisstudycomparedthesubjectivewellbeingofspecificagegroupsatdifferent
pointsinrecenthistory.Previousstudieshavefoundthathappinessjumpsupanddownover
thecourseofindividuallives,withmostfindingthathappinessfallsdramaticallyinmiddleage
andthengentlyincreasesasweenterthesenioryears.Bycomparingagegroupsovertime,
JeanTwengeandhercolleagueswereabletodetectsocialtrendsinhappiness.Theirresults
areechoedbyareportthisyearfromtheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention,which
showedthatthesuiciderateforAmericansaged35to64yearshasjumpedby28percent
since1999,whiletherateforyoungerpeoplehasstayedsteady.
Thesefindingsareimportantbecausetheyrevealapreviouslyhiddenproblem,althoughthe
researchhasntyettoldusexactlywhythisshiftishappening.SomethingaboutAmerican
culturalchangesoverthepast40yearsseemstobehittingadultshardwhilebuoyingup
adolescents,andtheresearcherscanonlyspeculate.Onesuspicion?Wereseeingarisein
individualismandaweakeningofsocialtiesthatmaybeprimarilyharmfultoadults.Many
adultsover30havemovedthroughastageofindependenceandexplorationandnowcrave
connection,butmayhavedifficultyfindingfulfillingrelationshipsandcommunities.
Ifthisistrue,Americanshavesomethingtolearnfromothersocietieswheresocialties
remainstrongeveninourmodernage.
Goodpeerrelationshipsareessentialtoadolescentwellness.
Socialisolationhurtshumansofallages,buta
newwaveofstudiespublishedthisyearshows
justhowsensitiveteensaretotheirsocial
environment.
Tostart,anewlongitudinalstudyinPsychological
Sciencesuggeststhatteenswhohaveclose
friendshipsandfollowtheirpeergroupgrowupto
behealthierthantheloners,orthosewhoonly
pursueselfinterest.Evenwhentakinginto
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_top_10_insights_from_the_science_of_a_meaningful_life_in_2015

6/10

1/3/2016

The Top 10 Insights from the Science of a Meaningful Life in 2015 | Greater Good

accountotherpotentialcontributorstohealthoutcomes,likeadultdruguse,friendshipquality
andgroupfocusinonesearlyteenspredictedhealthinonesmid20sbetterthanthe
combinedeffectofonesbodymassindexorpriorhistoryofseriousillness.Wehadnoidea
howimportantpeerrelationshipswouldbe,orthattheirreachwouldspreadasfarasphysical
health,saysJosephAllen,whoistheprincipalinvestigatorattheUniversityofVirginias
AdolescentResearchGroup.
Twootherstudiessuggestwhythismightbethecase.
OnepaperpublishedinthejournalSocialCognitiveandAffectiveNeurosciencelooked
specificallyathowsocialcontextrelatestorisktakingintheteenbrain.Inatwoyearstudy,
researchersattheUniversityofIllinois,UrbanaChampaign,andUCLAasked46teensto
keepdailydiariesaboutexperienceswithpeerconflictandsupport.Researchersthen
scannedthebrainsofparticipantsastheyinflatedavirtualballoon.Howcloseparticipants
takeittothepointofexplosionrevealstheirattitudestowardriskpreviousstudieshavefound
thistaskcorrelateswithrealliferiskbehaviorssuchasadolescentsmoking,sexual
promiscuity,addiction,anddruguse,suggestingthatthistaskprovidesascannercompatible
proxyformeasuringrealworldbehaviors.
Inanalyzingthediariesinrelationtothebrainscans,researchersfoundthatlesssupportand
moreconflictwithpeerswasassociatedwithgreaterrisktakingbehavior.Risktakingteens
showedgreateractivationintheventralstriatum,whichhasalargeamountofdopamine
receptors,andtheinsula,whichisinvolvedinsensingotherpeoplesfeelingsaswellasyour
own.Whiletheimplicationsoftheneuralfindingsarentyetentirelyclear,thisstudyreveals
howcriticalteenfriendshipsaretohealthychoices.
ItsafindingechoedinanotherpaperpublishedintheProceedingsoftheRoyalSocietyB.
AfteraresearchteamfromtheUniversityofWarwickanalyzedinterviewandquestionnaire
datafromtheNationalLongitudinalStudyofAdolescenttoAdultHealth,theyconcludedthata
healthymoodspreadsthroughteensocialnetworks,butthatdepressiondidnotand,infact,
friendshipcouldreduceboththefrequencyanddepthofdepression.
Duringadolescence,kidsstarttoturnfromtheirparentstotheirpeerstofindapproval,values,
andcompany.Thesestudiesrevealthecircumstancesinwhichthatcanbegoodorbad.
Thatdesiretobelikeotherpeopleandlookthepart,thatsabuiltinhumandesire,says
Allen.Wekindofpilloryadolescentsabitunfairlyforbeingoverlyfocusedonpeers,not
recognizingthatashumansweneedtogetalongandfitin,inordertogetby.
Happinessiscontagiousviaoursenseofsmell.
Wakeupandsmellthehappiness!AstudypublishedinPsychologicalSciencesuggeststhat
happypeoplegiveoffanodorthatmakesotherssmile.
Scientistsknowthathappinessiscontagious:Peoplewithhappyfriendsaremorelikelyto
becomehappyinthefuture,forexample.Intuitively,thismakessense:Inthecompanyof
happypeople,wehavemorewarmexperiencesandsharedgiggles.Butcouldsomething
elsebegoingon?Previousresearchsuggeststhatfearcanbecommunicatedviasmell,soa
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_top_10_insights_from_the_science_of_a_meaningful_life_in_2015

7/10

1/3/2016

The Top 10 Insights from the Science of a Meaningful Life in 2015 | Greater Good

groupofEuropeanresearchersdecidedtoinvestigatethispathway.
Inanexploratorystudy,theresearcherscollectedsweatsamples
frommaleparticipantsastheywatchedvideosdesignedtoelicit
positivefeelings,suchastheBareNecessitiesclipfromthemovie
TheJungleBookandacomedicprankfromaTVshow.Sweat
sampleswerealsocollectedfromparticipantswhoweremadetofeel
afraidornoemotionalresponseatall.Allofthesweatsampleswere
thenpresentedtofemaleparticipantstosmellwhiletheirfacial
expressionswererecorded.
Whensniffingsweatfromsomeonewhofelthappy,thewomenwere
morelikelytoexhibitanauthenticsmile.Accordingtothe
researchers,thismeansthathappysweatmayhaveadistinctchemicalmakeupthatour
nosespickupon.
Thisresearchshedslightonasubtleyeteverydaywayinwhichhappinesscanbe
communicated.Itsuggeststhat,bysurroundingourselveswithhappierpeople(andtheir
scents),wecouldbringmorepositiveemotionintoourlives.Andbybecominghappier
ourselves,wecouldbeboostingthehappinessofourfriendsandfamilywithoutevenrealizing
it.
Teachingkidssocialemotionalskillshasprofoundhealthandsafetybenefits.
Skillslikekindnessandempathyaresometimesdismissed
asaluxuryineducation,notnearlyaspracticalor
importantasteachingmathandreading.
ButastudypublishedinNovemberbytheAmerican
JournalofPublicHealthsuggeststhatthosesocial
emotionalskillsareakeytodoingwellinschooland
avoidingsomemajorproblemslaterinlife.Infact,the
studyevensuggeststhatneglectingtheseskillscouldpose
athreattopublichealthandsafety.
ResearchersfromPennStateandDukeUniversity
analyzedawealthofdatafromalongtermprojectthat
tracked753lowincomestudentsinfourstatesfromthetimetheywereinkindergartenuntil
theyturned25.Theyfoundthatifastudentskindergartenteacherratedhimorherasbeing
highinprosocialskillssuchascooperatingwithpeersorunderstandingothersfeelings
thatstudentwassignificantlymorelikelytofinishhighschoolandcollege,andtoholddowna
steadyjobheorshewasalsosignificantlylesslikelytoreceivepublicassistance,haverun
inswiththelaw,abusealcoholordrugs,orgoonmedicationformentalhealthproblems.That
heldtrueregardlessofthestudentsgender,race,socioeconomicstatus,thequalityoftheir
neighborhood,orseveralotherfactors.
Theresultsechootherrecentfindingsthatpointtotheprofoundandvariedbenefitsof
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_top_10_insights_from_the_science_of_a_meaningful_life_in_2015

8/10

1/3/2016

The Top 10 Insights from the Science of a Meaningful Life in 2015 | Greater Good

nurturingstudentssocialemotionalskills.Onestudy,forinstance,foundthatfeelingsocially
connectedasakidismorestronglyassociatedwithhappinessinadulthoodthanacademic
achievementisanotherfoundthatchildrenwhoparticipateinsocialemotionallearning(SEL)
programsdobetteracademically.
Indeed,theresearcherssaytheirresultsmakeaconvincingcaseforinvestingmorein
studentssocialemotionalskillswhich,accordingtopriorresearch,aremalleableandcan
beimproved,withlastingandmeaningfulresults.
Enhancingtheseskillscanhaveanimpactinmultipleareas,theywrite,andthereforehas
potentialforpositivelyaffectingindividualsaswellascommunitypublichealthsubstantially.
Mindfulpeopleseemtomakehealthierchoices.
Thefirstwaveofmindfulnessresearchrevealedits
positiveimpactonpsychologicalhealth.The
secondwaveisbeginningtoshowhow
mindfulnessimprovesourphysicalhealthalink
that,ifproven,wouldserveasapowerful
responsetomindfulnesscritics.
Tothatend,twostudiespublishedthisyearinthe
InternationalJournalofBehavioralMedicinefound
thatpeoplewhoaremoremindfulhavealower
riskofobesityandcardiovasculardisease.
Butthemissinglinkinthisresearchandprevious
researchonmindfulnessastreatmentforbingeingandweightlossishowexactly
mindfulnessaffectshealthandhealthbehaviors.Anotherstudy,publishedthisyearinthe
JournalofPersonalityandSocialPsychology,foundatleastonepieceofthatpuzzle:
Mindfulnesscanactuallymakeunhealthyfoodseemlessappealing.
Acrosstwoexperiments,theresearchersfoundthathungryparticipantsweredrawnto
unhealthyfoods.Butthatattractioncompletelydisappearedafterparticipantslearnedmindful
attention,theabilitytoseeourthoughtsandfeelings(includingacravingforM&Ms)as
transienttemporarymentalevents,nothingmore.Mostencouragingly,thisfindingheldina
reallifecafeteriasetting:Themindfulparticipantschoselowercaloriemealsandmoresalads
thanthenonmindfulparticipants,whopreferredcheesepuffpastriesanddonuts.
Mindfulnessinthiscase,amere12minuteexercisethatinvolvednomeditationseemsto
allowustodisengagefromourproblematiccravingsandthusmakehealthierchoices.The
researchersfoundasimilardynamicwiththedesireforcasualsex,andspeculatethatitcould
applyinmanyotherdomains,aswellwhereveralittledistancefromoururgesorphobias
mightimprovebehavior.
Mindfulattentionoffersapromisingandnovelstrategyforselfcontrol,theyconclude.
Allie_Caulfield
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_top_10_insights_from_the_science_of_a_meaningful_life_in_2015

9/10

1/3/2016

The Top 10 Insights from the Science of a Meaningful Life in 2015 | Greater Good

from
Germany

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_top_10_insights_from_the_science_of_a_meaningful_life_in_2015

10/10

Você também pode gostar