Why This Now? Theorizing Mindfulness and Communication

Abstract

The essays in the previous special section illustrate diverse starting points communication scholarship can take when exploring mindfulness. This essay is a complement to the special section and explores how these scholars employ and refine mindfulness conceptualizations. The outlook for communication scholars interested in mindfulness research provides not a single perspective, but, rather, diverse views for theory development and application. Ideas for conceptualizing and theorizing mindfulness are delineated by examining the variety of axiological, ontological, and epistemological starting points seen in this collection of essays.

Keywords:

• Axiology
• Conceptualizing
• Epistemology
• Mindfulness
• Ontology
• Theorizing

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The other five characteristics of contested concepts are that the concept: a) implies a positive normative valence; b) is describable in various ways; c) has meaning that is open and may evolve; d) includes different uses that emerge; and e) originates from an authority or exemplar (Gallie, 1955).

2. See Ward’s (2015) explanation of theorizing organizational communication and religion.