Toward Greater Clarity in Defining and Understanding Nonattachment

Nonattachment is a key positive element of several psychotherapeutic approaches, including mindfulness-based interventions. However, it has been defined in the academic literature largely as a construct of negation, whereby one should not become attached to objects, people, or experiences. This approach may foster resistance to nonattachment in general through confusion associated with what it means along with uncertainty in how to practise it as there are currently no evidence-based courses or clear guidelines. Furthermore, there is currently no empirical exploration of interventions that are specifically nonattachment-based in terms of their value in applied settings.

The purpose of this paper is to propose an affirmative, action-based definition of nonattachment in order to improve understanding and implementation. A further objective is to provide examples of exercises within existing therapeutic modalities through which nonattachment may already be cultivated and to use the example of post-traumatic stress (PTS) as a focus area to discuss the potential value and implications of using nonattachment in a clinical context. Four psychotherapeutic approaches currently applying nonattachment-based concepts including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Compassion-Focussed Therapy, and Mindfulness are critically assessed for ways in which they cultivate nonattachment, using symptoms of PTS as an example.

Based on existing therapeutic and contemplative practices that embody nonattachment principles, as an affirmative definition we propose that nonattachment involves the intentional practices of acceptance, letting go, deep presence, opening to a universally interconnected self-schema, and perceptual distancing from stimuli and response. An affirmative understanding of what nonattachment is, along with a targeted approach to its cultivation, may facilitate a clearer pathway toward the predictive and intervention outcome value of nonattachment in applied settings.