Doping Existential Despair: Mindful of the Exotic Lure.

The paper critiques how mainstream psychology selectively adopts only certain concepts from Eastern mindfulness traditions while ignoring their broader philosophical systems. It argues that this partial appropriation limits understanding and proposes instead a fully ecological shift in studying the self, drawing on a Meadian perspective. The author suggests that integrating the complete Eastern worldview, including its metaphysical foundations, could transform psychological approaches to selfhood and mindfulness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The paper builds on (von Fircks, E. Integr. psych. Behav. Sci. 2023) article on mindfulness meditation analysed in a Meadian perspective. First, the selective appropriation of some concepts by hegemonic psychology is critically discussed. Then, the consequences of adopting the whole philosophical system of Eastern perspectives are envisaged. Finally, a proposal for a truly ecological shift in the study of self is proposed.