Supporting Mindfulness: Online Coaches for All Ages

Theoretically, this part covers background from many disciplines of research that all address elements of human adaptation to demanding environmental conditions. It looks quickly back at human development in nature, then offers a somewhat short history of stress research, and then on to more modern conceptions of adaptation as an ongoing process. At last, it looks at

routes between environmental problems and pathogenic actions.The relevance of the contents of this section for the integration of restorative environments research and mindfulness research is that it connects them through their common ambition to intervene in pathogenic processes by means of efficient recovery from stressor exposure and by

reinstating adaptive capabilities. The contents also provide a required background for the next sections on what people do when challenges are low and there is nothing else to do, and how a person might occasionally transcend the automatic and habitual patterns of responding to the surroundings and instead act with some degree of apparent freedom.A brief review of

human evolution in natural environments

Embedded as our ancestors were in nature but also in social institutions, their bodies and minds changed in line with human society (Confer et al., 2010; Cosmides & Tooby, 2013; Heys, 2012; MacLean, 2016). Being a rather peaceful animal, our ancestors were especially able to find fresh approaches to survive and tackle difficult challenges (Heatherton, 2010;

MacLean, 2016). Having the nutrients and energy they required, they could maintain bigger, more energy-consuming brains with more processing capacity. In turn, the size of the brain is quite correlated with the capacity for self-regulation of actions and cognition (Maclean et al., 2014). Modern people nevertheless depend on cognitive and psychophysiological systems that evolved in a generic and instinctive response to various circumstances, even with this

ability subsequently abandoned. Mason (1975) contended that stress is a set of self-regulating mechanisms in response to psychological problems, not a generic reaction. Lazarus (1966; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) further questioned the automaticity of the stress reaction when he proposed the cognitive-transactional model as cognitive psychology emerged. Under such model, evaluation of the namuch various periods and surroundings

Among the most powerful stimuli alerting

one to a risk of social exclusion could be Dickerson & Kemeny, 2004. Important objects and scenes to avoid thus came to elicit vigilant attention, anxiety or fear, and behavioral freezing – a pattern that has been described as the behavioral inhibition system – usually followed by behavior to stop contact with the aversive stimulus (Lovallo, 2005; Thayer & Lane, 2009).

Appetitive cues, which signified beneficial possibilities throughout evolution, instead engage less obligatory and more flexible attention, positive emotions, coupled with curiosity and exploring behavior (cf. Fredrickson, 2004; Fredrickson & Branigan, 2005; Ulrich, 1983; Ulrich et al., 1991). Restoring experience and mindfulness share with flexible attention and a

positive attitude orientation. Thus, the automatic response systems support control of the body's resource consumption and distribution patterns as well as inspire specific actions (cf. Cosmides & Tooby, 2013). But it can cause sickness when the settings call for regular or extended activation of particular psychophysiological systems. Under the name stress, the routes from external demands to pathogenesis have been investigated. Both restorative

settings and mindfulness studies fundamental

goal has been developed as the reduction of stress. A very short history of stress Researchers from several disciplines have been engaged in inquiries about how interactions with stimuli in the environment come to influence internal biological processes (Cohen, Gianaros, & Manuck, 2016; Cooper & Dewe, 2008; Lovallo, 2005; McEwen, 2019; Taylor, Repetti, & Seemen, 1997). Bernard (1878/1974) clarified at the birth of modern medicine that

the body must have an internal feedback system that controls the internal environment at a constant balance where the organs can operate effectively to offset the influence of events in the external environment. Bernard established the stage for modern neuroscience with his insight . He also set the groundwork for Cannon's (1929; also see Cooper, 2008; Lovallo,

of homeostasis, which is the mechanism of maintaining some essential body processes from altering beyond a limited tolerable range. Cannon, and subsequently Selye, also investigated how species react with compensation mechanisms when outside pressures compromise equilibrium. Selye (1936; also see Cooper & Dewe, 2008; Lovallo, 2005) detailed how protracted autonomic nervous system activity might cause disturbances of metabolism,

Conclusion

immune system function, organ failure, and death. To explain that process with stages of alert, reaction, and tiredness, he developed the idea of the general adaption syndrome. He also popularized the idea of stress when he extended his laboratory research conclusions to the regular life events of people. But according to stress is not like that. This insight is basic for ideas about restorative environments Humans have presumably evolved automatic response

systems that let us quickly and spontaneously orient attention towards, process, and react to objects and scenes that held particular value for survival and procreation during our species's history Independent of any deliberate choice, these often grab attention in a bottom-up sense (Arnsten, 2009; Pashler, Johnston Dangerous animals high energy foods emotive faces