From experiential attachment to nonattachment: A theory-informed review of harmful and healthy pursuits of comfort, approval, competence, status, and control

Abstract

Nonattachment has long been regarded as crucial for inner peace and spiritual growth, with traditions in Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Sikhism, and Islam emphasizing the release from ego-driven striving and excessive pursuit of pleasurable states. We propose a functional definition of nonattachment as a behavioral repertoire that involves noticing the pull of socially and culturally created rewards (e.g., praise, control, status, self-image) without automatically acting on them, and re-orienting attention to present circumstances and values-based action. Central to this stance is reducing the dominance of symbolic control, in which the pursuit of positive symbolic experiences disproportionately guides behavior and overrides sensitivity to other contingencies. In this review, we apply Relational Frame Theory and the Extended Evolutionary Meta-Model to organize and interpret the diverse findings related to nonattachment and its functions. Evidence links nonattachment to well-being, pain tolerance, openness, and prosociality, and points to intervention targets across biological, psychological, interpersonal, and cultural levels.