New Perspectives on Mind-Wandering

The study of mind-wandering has produced a large volume of scholarly work in the last decade, covering a wide range of topics related to "first-person perspective" and "personhood". This book provides an interdisciplinary theoretical and empirically informed overview of mind-wandering studies and methodologies oriented toward the educational field, with the aim of transforming and enriching the debate on mind-wandering and informing teaching-learning practices. It moves along three representations of developed scientific knowledge: imaginary lines, circles, and spirals.

Format: Hardback
Length: 267 pages
Publication date: 08 October 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

In recent years, a significant body of scholarly work has emerged on the fascinating mental process known as mind-wandering, which encompasses a wide range of human experiences and is intricately linked to concepts such as "first-person perspective," "personhood," submental thinking, mental autonomy, and more. While mind-wandering manifests in diverse and evolving features that intertwine and flow into and out of each other, including second field mental travel, visual imagery, inner speech, unspecific memory, autobiographical memory, fantasies, introspection, and more, it is characterized by both positive and negative approaches.

To provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of mind-wandering studies and methodologies, this book takes a novel approach. It presents three interconnected representations: imaginary lines, circles, and spirals.

In the first section, titled "The Lines," the book delves into new avenues of inquiry into attention (selective and sustained) and mind-wandering, exploring the influence of age on mind-wandering, the relationship between embodiment and mind-wandering, consciousness and experience, and mind-wandering.

The second section, titled "The Circles," consists of groups of Chapters that address the same topic from different perspectives. These Chapters explore methodology (tasks and measurement), intervention (such as auditory beat stimulation and mindfulness practices), and creativity, showcasing a dynamic dance of interacting parts where valuable, decisive, and retroactive exchanges occur between the information activated by each group or author.

The third section, titled "The Spirals," critically examines the absence of a unified theoretical perspective in the pedagogical field, paying attention to both the processes of emergence and the interactions between the various parts involved in mind-wandering.

By adopting these three interconnected representations, this book offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of mind-wandering, providing valuable insights for scholars, educators, and practitioners alike. It serves as a valuable resource for those interested in advancing our understanding of this fascinating mental process and its implications for education and learning.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031069543
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022