What Mindfulness Means in Psychology

This lesson defines mindfulness in psychology as a trainable way of paying attention: on purpose, in the present moment, and with an attitude of openness and nonjudgment. Rather than treating mindfulness as a vague wellness trend, we focus on how psychologists describe it, study it, and apply it in everyday life.

You will learn the difference between mindfulness as a state and mindfulness as a trait, why attention and awareness matter, and how mindfulness is related to emotion regulation, stress, and well-being. We also distinguish mindfulness from common misunderstandings such as relaxation, emptying the mind, or simply “being positive.”

By the end of the lesson, you should be able to explain what mindfulness means in psychological terms, recognize core features of the practice, and identify where it fits within the broader course on attention, emotion, and well-being.