Is meditation always good for you?
Plus, a quiet paradox
BRAIN WAVES
Ummm...Meditation is sold as a cure-all for pretty much every problem of modern life, but new research suggests that it might not have the same desired effect for everyone. In a study, researchers recruited 900 people who had meditation experience, then created a 30-item checklist to gauge whether they experienced certain side effects —like discomfort or dissociation — after meditating. The results? More than 30 percent of people reported a challenging, difficult, or distressing experience, and nine percent reported that it impaired their ability to function. So what gives? If meditation is supposed to be so calming, why would it lead to distress for some? There were a few factors that seemed to increase the likelihood of negative experiences. For example, people who had already experienced psychological distress within the past month were more likely to report negative side effects, suggesting that meditation might have kicked up memories or feelings about the experience. The researchers also found a link between attending an intensive silent retreat and adverse effects, like emotional distress. Psychologist Nicholas Van Dam, the study’s lead author, was careful not to make any causal claims but did say, “These practices are not for everyone. If they’re not working, it’s not necessarily because the person is doing something wrong. It might be because it’s just not a good match.”
Nobody wanted this. It’s Friday night, you’re hungry, and you suggest pizza for dinner. You don’t really want pizza, but you know your roommate likes it, and you figure it’s what she wants. In reality, she’s not particularly in the mood for pizza, but you suggested it, so she figures it’s what you want — pizza it is. Now both of you are eating pizza, even though neither of you wanted it. This scenario illustrates the Abilene Paradox —a fallacy that happens when a group of people collectively decide on something, mistakenly believing that the decision aligns with everyone’s preferences, when in reality it goes against everyone’s preferences. The late George Washington University professor Jerry B. Harvey coined the term Abilene Paradox (the name comes from an anecdote about going to Abilene for dinner). It might seem like the stuff of sitcoms, but there are situations where this paradox is no laughing matter. Harvey pointed to the Watergate scandal as an example. He argued that confronting the paradox —by speaking up, asking questions, and being honest —may give our lives more meaning.
Ancient wisdom. Life is often filled with hardships and tragedies. For thousands of years, philosophers have come up with strategies to help us cope with such hardship. Listen to learn more.
ON THE HIDDEN BRAIN PODCAST
The Power of Family Stories: There’s a tradition around many Thanksgiving dinner tables that’s as consistent as pumpkin pie: the family stories that get told year after year. This week, we talk to psychologist Robyn Fivush about the profound impact that family stories can have on our lives.
ON THE MY UNSUNG HERO PODCAST
Jolena Rothweil’s Story: During a painful divorce, Jolena was out of money and overwhelmed. Then a coworker slipped her an envelope with $200 and a simple message: pay it forward.
Don’t forget to send us the story of your unsung hero! Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.
NEW STOPS ON THE HIDDEN BRAIN TOUR!
Good news! The Hidden Brain tour continues, and we’ve added more stops. Join our host Shankar Vedantam as he brings seven key insights from the first decade of Hidden Brain to the stage. You don’t want to miss it!
MIND GAMES
The majority of people reading this will not find the the mistake in this: A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z.
LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
A hat and scarf cost a total of $1.10. The hat costs $1.00 more than the scarf. How much does the scarf cost?
The answer: It may seem like it costs 10 cents, but the answer is 5 cents. The hat costs a dollar more, so it would cost $1.05. $1.05 + $0.05 = $1.10.
A MOMENT OF JOY
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