McMindfulness – I am lovin it

En kritisk analyse af udbredelsen af mindfulness

Abstract

In recent years the popularity of mindfulness has exploded and the purpose of this article is to identify some of the reasons for this sudden rise in popularity. In the paper, we argue that one of the reasons that mindfulness has become so popular is due to mindfulness connecting a progressive individualized thinking with a medical evidence-oriented discourse. In the article, we will show that mindfulness functions in a variety of ways: as part of a religious practice, as a medical intervention tool and as a prevention tool in relation to disease. It is particularly the understanding of mindfulness as prevention tool that we critique in the paper. We argue that mindfulness transforms a wide range of individual, social, cultural and economic issues to themes of a medical discourse that the individual herself is responsible for monitoring. Finally, we point out that mindfulness fits well into present society where a neoliberal mind-set sets a strong individualized agenda.