Psychological and physiological characteristics of a proposed object-referral/self-referral continuum of self-awareness

The meeting of meditative disciplines and western psychology: A mutually enriching dialogue.

“…Given that several studies have found that participants practicing meditation had higher empathy ratings, it is also not surprising that measures of interpersonal functioning and marital satisfaction increased (Tloczynski & Tantriells, 1998). Finally, several studies, most using TM, have suggested that meditation may foster maturation, because meditators tend to score higher on measures of ego, moral and cognitive development, self-actualization, coping skills and defenses, and states and stages of consciousness (C. Alexander & Langer, 1990;Emavardhana & Tori, 1997;Nidich, Ryncarz, Abrams, Orme-Johnson, & Wallace, 1983;Travis et al, 2004).…”

“…Not surprisingly, several kinds of meditation appear to reduce trait anxiety (Andresen, 2000). A study of the Big Five personality factors found that conscientiousness was unchanged, but the other four factors-extraversion, agreeableness, openness to experience, and especially emotional stability-all increased (Travis, Arenander, & DuBois, 2004).…”

“…Likewise, Laurence Kohlberg eventually grounded his highest stage of moral maturity (his "metaphorical stage 7") in the kinds of transpersonal experiences that meditation aims for (C. Alexander & Langer, 1990). Initial research support comes from reports of TM practitioners whose increased scores on scales of moral development correlate with duration of practice and with EEG measures (Nidich et al, 1983;Travis et al, 2004). Further research on this topic obviously deserves high priority.…”

“…Equanimity overlaps but extends beyond Western concepts of "affect tolerance" and "emotional resilience" to include not only tolerance but even serenity in the face of provocative stimuli, and it has obvious clinical potential. Preliminary experimental support comes from measures of emotional stability and startle response (Goleman, 2003;Travis et al, 2004).…”

Is ADHD a Stress-Related Disorder? Why Meditation Can Help

“…These techniques are characterized by frontal theta (5-8 Hz) EEG, and perhaps occipital gamma (30-50 Hz) EEG. Automatic self-transcending meditation is defined as effortless transcending of the meditation process itself [22], [21]. EEG activity of an automatic self-transcending technique is associated with alpha-1 (7-9 Hz), characteristic of reduced mental activity and relaxation.…”