Helping People by Being in the Present: Mindfulness Increases Prosocial Behavior

• Published in: Organizational behavior and human decision processes Vol. 159; pp. 21 - 38
• Main Authors: Hafenbrack, Andrew C., Cameron, Lindsey D., Spreitzer, Gretchen M., Zhang, Chen, Noval, Laura J., Shaffakat, Samah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Altruism; Empathy; Loving kindness; Meditation; Mindfulness; Perspective taking; Prosocial behavior; Meditation; Prosocial behavior; Loving kindness; Empathy; Perspective taking; Altruism; Mindfulness

•Short episodes of mindful practice (7–15 min) can increase prosocial behaviors.•Results for giving time and money as well as responding compassionately.•Prosocial effects mediated by increases in empathy and perspective taking.•More general feelings of positive emotions did not mediate.•Both breath...