Images of mindfulness

This article addresses the question: How should mindfulness be understood? Three views are considered The first is that mindfulness should be understo od as a cognitive ability, According to this view, people differ in their c apacity to think in a mindful way, much as people differ in memory or intel ligence. The second view is of mindfulness as a personality trait. Accordin g to this view, mindfulness is a stable disposition much as would be extrav ersion or neuroticism. The third view is of mindfulness as a cognitive styl e. According to this view, mindfulness represents a preferred way of thinki ng. Mindfulness has characteristics of all three but seems closest to being a cognitive style. Construct validation is needed in order to address this and related questions.