DIFFERENTIATING THE EFFECTS OF BRIEF LOVING-KINDNESS MEDITATION ON PROSOCIAL RESPONSES

Abstract

Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM) is a type of meditative practice to cultivate loving-kindness and compassion towards oneself and others. Emerging research has provided encouraging data on the effectiveness of LKM on prosociality. Yet, it remains unclear how and which components of LKM intervention might be effective in fostering the change. Using a dismantling design, the current study attempts to examine whether brief LKM practice confers additional prosocial benefits than its components and active mind-wandering control, on levels of self-compassion and compassion for others, helping intentions and help-giving. One hundred and seventy participants were randomly assigned to one of the four conditions: LKM (self & other), LKM (self), LKM (other) or mind-wandering control. Compared to the control condition, participants in the LKM (self & other) group demonstrated significantly higher levels of self-compassion and compassion for others. Participants in the brief LKM (self & other) and LKM (other) groups did not differ in their mean levels of compassion. Groups also did not differ in their prosocial responses. The findings suggest that brief LKM may be a promising tool to promote self-compassion and compassion in a targeted and context-appropriate ways and highlight the limited utility in promoting prosocial intention and behaviour when implemented online.