An Interview With Richard J. Davidson, Ph.D.
Richard J. Davidson, Ph.D.
© Jeff Miller, University of Wisconsin-Madison
As you consider the scientific evidence on happiness, do you think American society is largely on track or off track in terms of its pursuit?
In my own view, we're largely off track, as a culture. The scientific research suggests that people are quite poor at predicting what will make them happy. People often believe that material things—the new car, the new home—will have a lasting effect on their happiness, but the evidence suggests they don't. I think we have not done a great job in fostering a deeper understanding of what will produce more sustained increases in happiness, which, in my view, will not come from a change in external conditions, at least within the majority of our culture. That is not to say that people who are living in abject poverty, who can't get adequate nutrition, won't see a direct impact on happiness from a change in external conditions… I think that the most important lesson I've gleaned about happiness is that it is best regarded as a skill that can be enhanced and trained.
If people feel intimidated by the prospect of learning meditation, or too busy, or unsure which of the many types to choose, do you have any suggestions?
Some people are intimidated by the number of hours of practice of some of our long-term practitioners. However, preliminary findings from our lab indicate that as little as 2 weeks of meditation practice can produce reliable changes in measures of both brain and behavior. With regard to finding time, I would use an analogy. Many people believe that exercise is beneficial to their health, and they make time for it in their weekly routine. I think if we can be convinced that mental exercise, of the kind that meditation represents, is as important to our health as physical exercise, people would create the time. Even 15 minutes per day of meditation is helpful. You can sleep 15 minutes less! But, I have found that most people can find the time elsewhere.
As for "which type," I think that that's a very difficult problem and an area in which scientific research is critically needed. I think it is best to not think of meditation as "one size fits all." I suggest that people find a group or teacher whom they believe is honest and ethical and with whom they feel some kind of rapport. I also suggest that they practice the technique regularly for 3 months minimum before they decide whether it's for them. Then they can either try to continue it, or try another approach.
Do you have an interest in how any specific population groups might benefit from meditative practices?
My interest is wide ranging in the application of meditation to physical and psychiatric disorders and to many different age groups. For example, I am leading a group studying its application to kids in the K-12 years—especially the middle school years, the pre- to early adolescent period. We know that that's a time of huge increase in all kinds of disorders that occur during adolescence. If a kid is going to make a wrong turn, it's often at that time, and it can have devastating consequences. If we can help children, through meditation, to stay on track and minimize bad choices, it would be a great contribution.
