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I assume you're referring to this study about mindfulness increasing generation of false memories? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09567976155937

I assume you're referring to this study about mindfulness increasing generation of false memories? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0956797615593705 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09567976155937...

AmericanChopper 7y ago
There’s plenty of literature. Another risk that is not generally discussed is that the mindful techniques used to alter thought patterns or suppress thoughts can backfire in a huge number of different ways. Suppressing negative thoughts can just as easily unintentionally suppress coping mechanism, amongst other things. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0956797612449176 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09567976124491... Then you have the issue that the majority of studies done into the benefits of mindfulness could not have possibly measured the majority of the potential negative outcomes. http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/25868/1/221391_2996.pdf http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/25868/1/221391_2996.pdf Personally I don’t have an opinion one way or another. I simply don’t think it’s at all obvious that practicing mindfulness would be associated with positive or exclusively positive outcomes. I could say the same thing for yoga too. I practice yoga regularly, and there are some obvious benefits to me. It’s a good workout and it makes me feel great. But many yoga positions are pretty intense. Am I doing harm to my body in some way be regularly applying this stress to it? I have no idea, but the answer to that question absolutely does not seem obvious to me.
- wolco 7y ago
  Yes certain poses you shouldn't do if your body is not ready for it. Mindfulness and visualizations can be harmful if you are not ready for that level. CBT too soon or too long can be harmful. If you always live and are only aware of the moment than imagination can't take hold. Everything is a balance and not everyone can sit in a lotus position but some parts might be possible some of the time for most of us.
- brigandish 7y ago
  > Another risk that is not generally discussed is that the mindful techniques used to alter thought patterns or suppress thoughts can backfire in a huge number of different ways. Suppressing negative thoughts can just as easily unintentionally suppress coping mechanism, amongst other things. What's the link between mindfulness and suppression of thought? Mindfulness is a specific state of awareness. Mindfulness techniques promote this state of awareness. I'm not aware of any mindfulness techniques that promote the suppression of thought, and if I was I'd say they were misnamed.
  - AmericanChopper 7y ago
    It’s a central part of “Mindful Based Cognitive Therapy”. They call it “releasing” though, not suppressing (perhaps that word isn’t new age enough?...) https://www.mindful.org/3-simple-ways-transform-negative-thoughts/ https://www.mindful.org/3-simple-ways-transform-negative-tho...
    - brigandish 7y ago
      Releasing is the opposite of holding. Can you hold on to a thought? Then do the opposite and you have releasing. That's not suppression.
      - AmericanChopper 7y ago
        You’re just arguing semantics my dude. For a fully peer reviewed description, read the paper I linked. It describes the dangers of one of the core MBCT practices.
        brigandish 7y ago
        Misusing common words isn't a good sign for any argument. To allow something to arise, whether it be a thought or anything else, is not suppression. To note it is not suppression. To not focus on something or not return to it is also, not suppression. There is no act or mechanism of suppression or inhibition. I read the paper before I commented, and one of the cited ones from it that mentioned suppression. The talk about active inhibition. For example, from the paper you linked: > Despite these efforts, unwanted thoughts sometimes per- sist. People can try to ignore these thoughts, negate them, sup- press them, correct for them, or think about something else, but unfortunately, these mental activities can be difficult to implement and do not always work in the intended ways (Wegner & Erber, 1992). For example, attempts to negate or suppress stereotypes and prejudice can backfire and produce an increase in unwanted thoughts (e.g., Gawronski, Deutsch, Mbirkou, Seibt, & Strack, 2008; Macrae, Bodenhausen, Milne, & Wheeler, 1996; Monteith, Sherman, & Devine, 1998). Also, attempts at correction for unwanted thoughts can lead to biases in the opposite direction (e.g., Martin, 1986; Schwarz & Bless, 1992; Strack & Mussweiler, 2001; Wegener & Petty, 1997; Wilson & Brekke, 1994). None of that, regardless of whatever semantic distortions you put on it, is allowing something to arise and simply noting it. That is the process of mindfulness. That is not: - to ignore - to correct - to suppress - to think about something else So it's not a semantic argument at all. Please, try not to call me "dude". Suppress the impulse if that makes more sense to you.

AmericanChopper 7y ago

There’s plenty of literature. Another risk that is not generally discussed is that the mindful techniques used to alter thought patterns or suppress thoughts can backfire in a huge number of different ways. Suppressing negative thoughts can just as easily unintentionally suppress coping mechanism, amongst other things. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0956797612449176 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09567976124491... Then you have the issue that the majority of studies done into the benefits of mindfulness could not have possibly measured the majority of the potential negative outcomes. http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/25868/1/221391_2996.pdf http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/25868/1/221391_2996.pdf Personally I don’t have an opinion one way or another. I simply don’t think it’s at all obvious that practicing mindfulness would be associated with positive or exclusively positive outcomes. I could say the same thing for yoga too. I practice yoga regularly, and there are some obvious benefits to me. It’s a good workout and it makes me feel great. But many yoga positions are pretty intense. Am I doing harm to my body in some way be regularly applying this stress to it? I have no idea, but the answer to that question absolutely does not seem obvious to me.

wolco 7y ago
Yes certain poses you shouldn't do if your body is not ready for it. Mindfulness and visualizations can be harmful if you are not ready for that level. CBT too soon or too long can be harmful. If you always live and are only aware of the moment than imagination can't take hold. Everything is a balance and not everyone can sit in a lotus position but some parts might be possible some of the time for most of us.
brigandish 7y ago
> Another risk that is not generally discussed is that the mindful techniques used to alter thought patterns or suppress thoughts can backfire in a huge number of different ways. Suppressing negative thoughts can just as easily unintentionally suppress coping mechanism, amongst other things. What's the link between mindfulness and suppression of thought? Mindfulness is a specific state of awareness. Mindfulness techniques promote this state of awareness. I'm not aware of any mindfulness techniques that promote the suppression of thought, and if I was I'd say they were misnamed.
- AmericanChopper 7y ago
  It’s a central part of “Mindful Based Cognitive Therapy”. They call it “releasing” though, not suppressing (perhaps that word isn’t new age enough?...) https://www.mindful.org/3-simple-ways-transform-negative-thoughts/ https://www.mindful.org/3-simple-ways-transform-negative-tho...
  - brigandish 7y ago
    Releasing is the opposite of holding. Can you hold on to a thought? Then do the opposite and you have releasing. That's not suppression.
    - AmericanChopper 7y ago
      You’re just arguing semantics my dude. For a fully peer reviewed description, read the paper I linked. It describes the dangers of one of the core MBCT practices.
      - brigandish 7y ago
        Misusing common words isn't a good sign for any argument. To allow something to arise, whether it be a thought or anything else, is not suppression. To note it is not suppression. To not focus on something or not return to it is also, not suppression. There is no act or mechanism of suppression or inhibition. I read the paper before I commented, and one of the cited ones from it that mentioned suppression. The talk about active inhibition. For example, from the paper you linked: > Despite these efforts, unwanted thoughts sometimes per- sist. People can try to ignore these thoughts, negate them, sup- press them, correct for them, or think about something else, but unfortunately, these mental activities can be difficult to implement and do not always work in the intended ways (Wegner & Erber, 1992). For example, attempts to negate or suppress stereotypes and prejudice can backfire and produce an increase in unwanted thoughts (e.g., Gawronski, Deutsch, Mbirkou, Seibt, & Strack, 2008; Macrae, Bodenhausen, Milne, & Wheeler, 1996; Monteith, Sherman, & Devine, 1998). Also, attempts at correction for unwanted thoughts can lead to biases in the opposite direction (e.g., Martin, 1986; Schwarz & Bless, 1992; Strack & Mussweiler, 2001; Wegener & Petty, 1997; Wilson & Brekke, 1994). None of that, regardless of whatever semantic distortions you put on it, is allowing something to arise and simply noting it. That is the process of mindfulness. That is not: - to ignore - to correct - to suppress - to think about something else So it's not a semantic argument at all. Please, try not to call me "dude". Suppress the impulse if that makes more sense to you.