A qualitative study of motivations for meditation in anthroposophic practitioners

PLoS One. 2018 Sep 13;13(9):e0203184. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203184. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Research on meditation is advancing, but few studies about the motivations of meditators exist. Additionally, many forms and traditions of meditation have yet to be investigated. This study addresses both of these issues by presenting an overview of different forms of motivations found in contemporary Anthroposophic meditation practice. 30 Anthroposophic meditators were interviewed about their meditation experiences. The interviews were examined using thematic analysis. 14 data-driven themes were extracted and organized within a framework consisting of three superordinate theory-driven forms of motivation: External, internal and service. A developmental trajectory running from external and internal to service motivations is indicated. This approach improves upon a scheme developed by Shapiro by including additional types of motivations and being able to differentiate between forms of motivations that are fundamentally different: Self-related (heteronomous and autonomous) motivations and other-related motivations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anthroposophy*
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Female
  • Health Personnel / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meditation / psychology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation*
  • Qualitative Research

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the following and received by TS: Mind and Life Institute (2014 Varela Awards), Rudolf Steinerstiftelsen, Vidarstiftelsen and Anthroposophische Gesellschaft in Deutschland. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.