Meditation Practices and the Reduction of Aggression and Violence: Towards a Gender-Sensitive, Humanitarian, Healing-Based Intervention
Alternative Offender Rehabilitation and Social Justice
Short Title:
Meditation Practices and the Reduction of Aggression and Violence
Format:
Book Chapter
Publication Date:
Nov 30, 2014
Publisher:
Palgrave Macmillan UK
Place of Publication:
London
Pages:
15 - 31
Sources ID:
68376
Collection:
Mindfulness, Diversity, and Social Justice
Visibility:
Public (group default)
Abstract:
(Show)
Contemporary solutions to the problem of violence at the individual level usually involve punitive social control mechanisms. As a humane alternative, meditation programs within correctional institutions are experiencing growth and greater acceptance in North America. A handful of scholarly and anecdotal studies report reduced violence, aggression, and anger and increased self-awareness and hopefulness among inmates who take up meditation and contemplative practices (Phillips, 2008; Parkum & Stultz, 2000). In this chapter we explore the mechanisms of reducing violence and aggression and combating recidivism through meditation programs and practices. We situate this phenomenon within a larger socio-cultural framework that considers the gender-specific subjectivities of a majority male correctional population.