Mindfulness Meditation and Intergroup Bias

: A Conjunction-Based Intervention Approach

Abstract

Aims: As brief intergroup bias interventions can be ineffective, the present thesis
aimed to assess whether combining mindfulness-based interventions in conjunction with other
intergroup bias interventions can achieve greater efficacy. A variety of combinations of
interventions were tested, to observe their effects on both indirect and direct measures of
prejudice and stereotyping.
Methods: Chapter 4 encompassed two studies which examined the effects of loving-kindness
meditation and breath meditation with imagined contact on prejudice towards Muslims.
Chapter 5 explored a no-self meditation in combination with decategorization to examine effects on prejudice and stereotyping. Chapter 6 employed a pre-test/post-test design, investigating a 12
day mindfulness-based stress reduction course in conjunction with Situational Attribution
Training and their effects on prejudice and stereotyping.
Results: Study 1 found no significant effects of loving-kindness meditation and imagined
contact on both indirect and direct prejudice. Study 2 showed adverse effects where the
combination of breath meditation and imagined contact increased indirect and direct prejudice.
Study 3 did not find any significant effects of the no-self meditation, nor decategorization on
measures of negative outgroup memory and direct bias. Study 4 found that a 12-day
mindfulness-based stress reduction course in conjunction with Situational Attribution Training
significantly reduced indirect and direct negative stereotyping towards Black people. However,
no significant effects of the intervention were found for direct prejudice and symbolic racism.
Conclusions: The pattern of findings throughout the studies suggest that brief interventions are
generally ineffective. Combing brief interventions into a conjunction-based approach also did
not yield enhanced effects for brief interventions. However, this conjunction-based approach
may provide enhanced effects when the mindfulness-based intervention is a longer course
duration and involves frequent repeated practise. More research is needed to explore the
potential of the conjunction-based approach with long-term mindfulness-based interventions,
longitudinal intergroup bias interventions and using second-generational mindfulness
techniques.

Date of Award	9 Dec 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Supervisor	Justin Park (Supervisor) & Angela C M Rowe (Supervisor)