Mindful Breathing Tames Stereotype Bias

New research found that taking just a short time to practice mindful breathing meditation can actually make people more likely to act on stereotypes, rather than less. In two studies, people who did a 45-minute breathing meditation session were more likely to make biased decisions when faced with situations that went against their stereotypes, compared to those who did a similar relaxation exercise or listened to a podcast. This is surprising, as previous studies have suggested that mindfulness meditation can help reduce prejudice and bias. The researchers think that there may be other factors at play that are affecting the results, and that more research is needed to understand the complex relationship between mindfulness, stereotypes, and behavior.