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Since the pandemic, many have been reflecting on their path, direction, and identity, all tied to a deeper question: What is one's purpose in life? Research reveals that understanding this purpose can significantly impact well-being, health, and personal development. This volume offers fresh insights by bringing together scholars from various fields to explore purpose from different angles. Each contributor delves into what purpose means and why individuals with a clear sense of it often enjoy better health, financial stability, and cognitive well-being. While this book won't define your life's purpose, it offers rich material to guide your personal journey.
List of contents
1. Purpose as an ancient yet nascent construct: an introduction Patrick L. Hill and Anthony L. Burrow; 2. The moral purpose of wisdom Daniel Lapsley; 3. Is purpose findable? Anthony L. Burrow and Marissa Rice; 4. The affluence-purpose paradox: a socio-historical analysis James E. Côté; 5. Positive transitions to adulthood: purpose in life as a resource for identity achievement during the transition to adulthood Claudia López-Madrigal, Seth J. Schwartz and Javier García-Manglano; 6. Undergraduate students' purpose and persistence in higher education; 7. How institutions of higher education support and thwart students' negotiations of identity and self-direction: exploring derailment in the college context Kaylin Ratner; 8. How to cultivate sense of purpose and life engagement: an integrative intervention framework Mathias Allemand and Gabriel Olaru; 9. You live, you learn: the processes and crises of purpose development across the lifespan Patrick L. Hill, Nathan A. Lewis and Laura Dewitte; 10. Seizing the power of religion to shape purpose Negin R. Toosi, Joseph D. Wellman and Clara L. Wilkins; 11. Religious faith and life purpose Cindy Miller-Perrin; 12. Where does purpose belong in wellbeing theory? Emily C. Willroth and Gabrielle N. Pfund; 13. Self-compassion and ikigai: similarities, differences, and implications Yasuhiro Kotera, Juliet Wilkes and Rory Colman; 14. Purpose as a timeless pursuit Anthony L. Burrow and Patrick L. Hill.
About the author
Patrick L. Hill received his Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame, and BA from Indiana University. He currently is a professor of psychological and brain sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. His research program examines how to cultivate a life direction, and purpose promotes adaptive lifespan development.Anthony L. Burrow received his Ph.D. from Florida International University, and BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He currently is an associate professor in the department of psychology at Cornell University. His research investigates how sense of purpose serves as a psychological resource particularly in the lives of adolescents and young adults.
Summary
This book offers valuable insights into the science and philosophy of purpose, catering to those intrigued by this growing topic. Featuring innovative perspectives from academics, the chapters blend rigorous research with relatable analogies and real-life examples, making the exploration of purpose accessible and engaging for all readers.
Foreword
This book unites diverse academic perspectives to transform public interest into purpose through integrated research insights.
