1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910298081803321

Autore

Cotton Bronk Kendall

Titolo

Purpose in Life [[electronic resource] ] : A Critical Component of Optimal Youth Development / / by Kendall Cotton Bronk

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Dordrecht : , : Springer Netherlands : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2014

ISBN

94-007-7491-5

Edizione

[1st ed. 2014.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (180 p.)

Disciplina

150.1988

Soggetti

Positive psychology

Quality of life

Educational psychology

Education—Psychology

Developmental psychology

Positive Psychology

Quality of Life Research

Educational Psychology

Developmental Psychology

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references.

Nota di contenuto

Foreword; William Damon -- Chapter 1. Introduction and Definition -- Chapter 2. Measuring Purpose -- Chapter 3. The Role of Purpose in Optimal Human Functioning -- Chapter 4. Purpose across the Lifespan -- Chapter 5. Origins and Supports for Purpose -- Chapter 6. Inspiring Types of Purposes in Life -- Chapter 7. The Experience of Purpose among Diverse Groups of Individuals -- Chapter 8. Youth Purpose Exemplars -- Chapter 9. Future Directions for Purpose Research.

Sommario/riassunto

This volume integrates and makes sense of the growing body of theoretical and empirical research conducted on purpose across the lifespan.  It opens with a comprehensive yet detailed discussion of the definitions of purpose most commonly used in studies on the topic.  In addition to defining the construct, the author also discusses its philosophical roots and distinguishes it from related concepts, including meaning, goals, and ultimate concerns.  This volume



discusses the disparate perspectives on the construct and addresses the tendency to position purpose in the broader frame of positive psychology.  It synthesizes distinct strands of research on purpose across the lifespan, it explores studies on the daily and longer-term experience of a purposeful existence, and it delves deeply into the wide range of measurement tools that have been used to assess the purpose construct.  Further, it examines the prevalence and forms of purpose among diverse groups of youth and discusses the developmental trajectory of the construct. Other topics discussed include the central role of purpose in supporting optimal well-being and positive youth development.  The book closes with empirically-supported steps adults, educators, and mentors can take to effectively and intentionally foster purpose among young people and makes recommendations for future research on the topic.