On a daily basis, we are bombarded with messages about our diet or lifestyle, and this often makes people feel defensive when reminded of their unhealthy behavior.
An investigation has been commissioned to demonstrate the positive side of changing our way of thinking regarding our way of life, experts call it self-transcendence, what is it about? It refers to a change of mentality that focuses on one’s own interests and the well-being of others.
self-transcendence
A study entitled “Effects of self-transcendence on neural responses to persuasive messages and health behavior change” was published last September in PNAS and in it, experts propose that self-transcendence, fostered by focusing on well-being from others, it may decrease subsequent focus on threatened aspects of the self and increase receptivity.
The research was led by Dr. Yoona Kang of the University of California.
The researchers worked with 200 sedentary subjects and demonstrated that activating self-transcendent mindsets, either by reflecting on self-transcendent values or making positive wishes for others, increases activity in brain regions chosen for their role in appraisal and positive reward.
Furthermore, during subsequent exposure to health messages, self-transcendence increased activity in regions of the brain tracking message receptivity, which later predicted decreased sedentary behavior.
These findings support the idea that having a positive other-centered mindset can be a rewarding experience and can enable people to see the personal value of beneficial health messages.
Sources:
PNAS