Loving-kindness Meditation. Increases. Social Connectedness. Eileen R. Snyder. Article Review #4. PSYCH 214 Abnormal Psychology.

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1 Loving-kindness Meditation Increases Social Connectedness. Eileen R. Snyder Article Review #4 PSYCH 214 Abnormal Psychology Larry Truillo

2 The findings and review of the article that I chose for this article review, entitled, Lovingkindness Meditation increases Social Connectedness, is based on my inquiry into the possible effects that loving-kindness meditation (LKM) may have in relevance to increasing positive social emotions and decreasing social isolation. As our ever-changing world causes changes to occur in society lead to growing social distrust and alienation, answers need to be found as it is clearly evident that feeling socially connected confers mental and physical health benefits. As a society, our survival depends on the ability to build mutually beneficial relationships with others. We have a basic need to feel connected, to be loved and trusted, to love and love in return. When these basic needs are met through connectiveness to others, psychological and physical well-being is increased and lessens the risk of depression physical ailments and substance abuse. Feeling connected also increases empathetic responding as well as acts of trust and cooperation, both which have mutually reinforcing effects, meaning that they in return bring on further trust and cooperation. It is the positive emotions that contribute to important downstream life outcomes, including friendship development, marital satisfaction, higher incomes, and better physical health. People who experience frequent positive emotions have even been shown to live longer. However, our society is becoming increasingly isolated and distrustful through social changes resulting in smaller social networks. Technology the use of computers for social networking, economic problems job loss & the inability to re-enter the workforce due to the lack of available jobs, and the demise of the family unit has resulted in the erosion of personal connectedness. Increased social isolation and mistrust of those outside one s already established social networks break down the ability to have social connectedness and trusting behavior which leads to an ever downward spiral.

3 In the study done for this article, Meditation was used as a catalyst for observation and positive change. Because simply counteracting negative, antisocial emotion is not the solution to the problem in social isolation, fostering positive prosocial emotions and behaviors through creating a positive mood is essential. In the Buddhist tradition, meditation (Loving-kindness meditation) has been used throughout time for cultivating connection and love toward others. In this practice, one directs compassion and wishes for well-being toward real or imagined others and results in creating changes in emotion, motivation, and behavior in order to promote positive feelings and kindness toward the self and others. Meditation and mindfulness are perhaps the best known as elements of Buddhist practice providing a strong foundation for wellbeing. Extended periods of meditation is further known to be able to alter neural structure in a positive way. In this study, a group of 91 participants was formulated, with meditation being done on a regular basis, the meditations lasting about seven minutes in length (but no longer than 30 minutes a day) All participants began with the instruction to close their eyes, relax, and take deep breathes. This was followed by guided imagery whereas they were told to imagine two loved ones standing to either side of the participant and sending their love. After about four minutes the participants were told to open their eyes and redirect these feelings of love and compassion toward a photograph of a neutral stranger, wishing them peace, wellness, happiness and well-being. In the antithesis, they also repeated this procedure with the consequence of two strangers being by their side with little connectedness. They were then examined to access the effects of the meditation on positive and negative mood through response to photographs. It was found that significant positive effects of loving-kindness meditation occurred. When people initiated a practice of LKM, they enjoyed payoffs immediately, in terms of self-generated positive emotions, and over time, in terms of increased resources and over-all

4 well-being. People who meditate even experience enhanced positive emotions in ordinary life situations, especially those involving other people. This reinforces the view that this type of meditation changes the way people approach life. People cultivate the intention to experience positive emotions during meditation itself, as well as in their life more generally while practicing mindful meditation. Mind-training practices like LKM are thought not only to shift people s fleeting emotional states but also reshape their enduring personality traits through momentary to long-terms gains. Through contemplative efforts such as LKM, the goal becomes to learn about the nature of one s mind and dispel false assumptions about the sources of one s happiness. These insights can, in turn, shift people s basic outlooks on themselves in relation to others, increasing empathy and compassion. Approaching daily life with the new insights and outlooks developed through mind-training practice enhances people s emotion experiences and leaves the door open to social connectedness.

5 Works Cited Hutcherson C., Seppala E., Gross J., Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. Emotion (serial online) October 2008: 8 (5): Available from PsycARTICLES, Ipswich, MA. Accessed December 11, 2011.