Men developing emotional intelligence through meditation? Integrating narrative, cognitive and electroencephalography (EEG) evidence.

• DOI: 10.1037/a0032191
• Publication Date: 2013-06-24T15:24:07Z
• Authors: Tim Lomas; Trudi Edginton; Tina Cartwright; Damien Ridge
• Keywords: 5. Gender equality; 05 social sciences; BF; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; HM; 3. Good health

Traditional masculine norms around emotions (e.g., inexpressiveness) can mean men have difficulties managing their emotions, contributing to potential mental health problems.However, it is recognized that and masculinities are diverse, some positively self-manage health, although this has received little attention in the literature.Uniquely, we sought find who had discovered ways engage constructively with case through meditation.Thirty male meditators, recruited using a maximum variation sampling strategy, participated longitudinal mixedmethod study UK.Participants undertook two cognitive neuroscience sessionsapproximately one year apartcomprising assessments of attention, combination EEG measurement during task performance meditation.In-depth narrative interviews exploring men's experiences meditation were also conducted at both timepoints, analyzed modified constant comparison approach.Taken together, quantitative qualitative results suggested developed skills meditation, there variations according previous experience sharper increase theta amplitude under for novice practitioners).Moreover, development appeared enhance emotional intelligence, which turn could be conducive wellbeing.The paper implications psychologists working men, pointing teaching about better regulating improved wellbeing.