researchmethods1

[researchmethods1]

How much do we think about thinking?

Science of Meta-awareness and Mind-Wandering with Jonathan Schooler.

The topic caught my attention, and immediately I thought of the number of times I have found myself in a daze. I couldn’t wait longer to listen to the interview and find out what exactly happens at moment when one is not in the moment. The research focuses on consciousness, Meta-awareness, mind wandering, and mindfulness. It explains the meaning of mind wondering while exploring the causes as well as its effects. The researcher gives a clear definition of mindfulness as a state of being attentive at the present action where one is aware of their environment. On the other hand, mind-wandering is when the mind drifts from the present to unrelated thoughts. The researcher goes ahead to explain how we can improve mindfulness as mind wondering can be a hazard in some situations, for instance, when driving a car or when reading a vital piece.  

While discussing about the research, he points out that mind-wandering can be beneficial as well especially in coming up with creative ideas. Also a percentage of people who engage in mind-wondering while faced with a problem tend to find a fitting solution. That then reveals that mind-wandering has its positive impacts as well. One needs to know the state of their emotions when their mind drifts.

The researcher of mind wandering topic is Jonathan Schooler a distinguished Professor of psychology and Brain Science at the University of California (Santa Barbra). He is an author of more than 200 scientific articles; his research covers a wide range of discipline including psychology, philosophy and meta-science.

After listening to the interview, I’m drawn to think that mind-wandering is an important aspect of human life as it brings a pause from the fast-paced life. The mind halts from reality. On the hand, it is hard to ensure that you are in the right state of mind during mind-wandering as it can negatively impact one.  The fact that mindfulness and mind-wondering are sort of opposite ends of a continuum fascinates me and that’s the reason why I would like to learn and discover the exploration of the mind, how it drifts from the present, how far it goes and what happens at that time.