New Books in Psychology When Meditation Causes Harm, with Willoughby Britton & Jared Lindahl
16 snips
Aug 4, 2025 
Join Willoughby Britton, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Lab, and Jared Lindahl, a Visiting Scholar at Brown University, as they explore the often-overlooked adverse effects of meditation. They discuss their groundbreaking research on the Varieties of Contemplative Experience, shedding light on psychological and emotional risks. The conversation raises critical questions about responsibility, personal interpretation of experiences, and the need for better support in meditation communities. Discover meditation's complexities beyond the expected tranquility.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Study Focus and Cultural Context
- The study focuses on Western Buddhist practitioners, not global Buddhist experiences.
- Meditation challenges are interpreted through religious and scientific frameworks reflecting cultural contexts.
Study Design and Data Analysis
- The study involved 101 interviews, coded for types of experiences, interpretations, and influences.
- Challenges include emotional, physiological, perceptual, and cognitive changes linked to meditation.
Meditation Can Cause Harm Alone
- Meditation-related difficulties can arise even with healthy, well-supported meditators practicing correctly.
- Meditation interacts with other factors to cause adverse effects; it is not always the sole cause.
