Psychology assignment 3

1

6, Aditya Kumar

Meaningful of Life

Assignment 2(a): Meaning of Life Factors

Based on a thorough review of authoritative secondary and primary sources related to the construct of meaning of life, the following major factors or themes have been identified:

1. Purpose and Goal-Directedness

a) The purposeful factor covers the sense of meaning, the direction giving, and compiling of goals that set a person’s life on track. This is no other than knowing that one is not confined to the daily endures and has a mission that is much larger.

b) Having purpose and working towards meaningful goals provides a framework that shapes one's pursuits and imbues life with a sense of meaning. Goals orient individuals to the future and motivate striving.

c) References:

· Baumeister, R. F. (1991). Meanings of life. Guilford Press.

· McKnight, P. E., & Kashdan, T. B. (2009). Purpose in life as a system that creates and sustains health and well-being: an integrative, testable theory. Review of General Psychology, 13(3), 242-251.

· Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. H. (2008). Know thyself and become what you are: A eudaimonic approach to psychological well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9(1), 13-39.

2. Coherence and Comprehensibility

a) This component conveys the degree of a person’s belief that there is purpose in his life and that things can be understood. For it, there is a transparent and context-based translating framework to explain a life event and add it to the comprehensibility.

b) It is comforting to sustain an image of the world that follows an organized narrative, as it acts as a stabilizer. The world is perceived through that prism. It decreases anxiety when one is confronted with life's ups and downs. It supports the release of happy chemicals, prompts a positive mood, and a better state of mind.

c) References:

· Antonovsky, A. (1993). The structure and properties of the sense of coherence scale. Social Science & Medicine, 36(6), 725-733.

· Heintzelman, S. J., & King, L. A. (2014). Life is pretty meaningful. American Psychologist, 69(6), 561-574.

· Martela, F., & Steger, M. F. (2016). The three meanings of meaning in life: Distinguishing coherence, purpose, and significance. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(5), 531-545.

3. Significance and Mattering

a) This factor relates to feeling that one's existence is consequential and matters in the grand scheme of things. It involves believing that one's life has inherent value and importance.

b) Feelings that are connected to the individual becomes the best source of their purpose. If they understand that they matter in a small way to other people and the world, tangibly speaking, they gain a very essential sense of meaning. This verifies the fact that I as a human am a whole.

c) References:

· George, L. S., & Park, C. L. (2016). Meaning in life as comprehension, purpose, and mattering: Toward integration and new research questions. Review of General Psychology, 20(3), 205-220.

· Machell, K. A., Kashdan, T. B., Short, J. L., & Nezlek, J. B. (2015). Relationships between meaning in life, social and achievement events, and positive and negative affect in daily life. Journal of Personality, 83(3), 287-298.

· Prilleltensky, I. (2014). Meaning-making, mattering, and thriving in community psychology: From co-optation to amelioration and transformation. Psychosocial Intervention, 23(2), 151-154.

4. Connecting and Belonging

a) This factor captures the meaning that comes from having fulfilling relationships and feeling connected to others. It involves a sense of belonging and being valued within one's social circles.

b) Close interpersonal bonds and being embedded in a network of caring relationships provides meaning by meeting the fundamental need for connection. Relationships give life richness and depth.

c) References:

· Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497-529.

· Hicks, J. A., & King, L. A. (2009). Positive mood and social relatedness as information about meaning in life. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(6), 471-482.

· Lambert, N. M., Stillman, T. F., Hicks, J. A., Kamble, S., Baumeister, R. F., & Fincham, F. D. (2013). To belong is to matter: Sense of belonging enhances meaning in life. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39(11), 1418-1427.

5. Transcendence and Self-Actualization

a) This factor is one which a person makes use of in order to get clear of his or her constraints so that he or she can explore their true identity while at the same time find some kind of elation which is spiritual in its nature. This is the process that is embodied by the spirit of being fully present and having the experiences of self-realization.

b) An individual involved in self-fulfilling ventures and transcending things that offer a supernatural perspective, or whatever life yourself, will have a more spacious context to live by. It is a platform for exchange and banishing oneself from the inner spaces of the psychological.

c) References:

· Emmons, R. A. (2005). Striving for the sacred: Personal goals, life meaning, and religion. Journal of Social Issues, 61(4), 731-745.

· Frankl, V. E. (1985). Man's search for meaning. Simon and Schuster.

· Maslow, A. H. (1971). The farther reaches of human nature. Penguin.

Assignment 2(b): Scale Items

Using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree.

Factor 1: Purpose and Goal-Directedness

1. What I do have is the direction of my life which I absolutely know. 2. I now place all my effort and do everything to achieve goals that actually very important to me. 3. Every single day, I tend to steer my everyday life to my long-term plans. 4. I think got bigger reason to live. It seems to me like my life ‘s composed of one overarching mission or calling.

Factor 2: Coherence and Comprehensibility

1. I now have a clearer understanding thru the changes and challenges of my life. 2. I have a way of core meanings behind my life events, the most pleasant and the most pained. 3. I still push myself, even in the hardest trying times, because I trust that cosmic power that constitutes the order of my life. 4. I feel as a whole I have in me a cohesively lived life story.

Factor 3: Significance and Mattering

1. I believe that my life matters. It makes sense, knowing that I do have a role in all the things that are happening. 2. I may not always be visible or noticeable, I remain familiar that my existence makes a difference. 3. I do feel like I am powerless but small acts of kindness that result in a difference however minor could be something that I can do to help other people and the world in general. 4. Just as my own life is valuable and essential, it is also extremely important.

Factor 4: Connecting and Belonging

1. I live in fulfillment of my relationships that give meaning and vulnerability to my life. 2. I sense this profound unity with that special few people in my life. 3. I sure know that I am well taken care of and this has helped me to realize my self-worth. 4. I feel being a part of my college not only makes me feel special but also brings me closer to the society.

Factor 5: Transcendence and Self-Actualization

1. I could not describe so much my feeling, when I was able to think on something much more than myself. 2. First of all, I have great desire to achieve my individual cause of humanism. 3. I can put myself before everyone and his self-benefit just to serve a greater purpose. 4. Meaning and purpose for me are simply two words which describe my spiritual being.

1

6, Aditya Kumar

Meaningful of Life

Assignment 2(a): Meaning of Life Factors

Based on a thorough review of authoritative secondary and primary sources related to the construct of meaning of life, the following major factors or themes have been identified:

1. Purpose and Goal-Directedness

a) The purposeful factor covers the sense of meaning, the direction giving, and compiling of goals that set a person’s life on track. This is no other than knowing that one is not confined to the daily endures and has a mission that is much larger.

b) Having purpose and working towards meaningful goals provides a framework that shapes one's pursuits and imbues life with a sense of meaning. Goals orient individuals to the future and motivate striving.

c) References:

· Baumeister, R. F. (1991). Meanings of life. Guilford Press.

· McKnight, P. E., & Kashdan, T. B. (2009). Purpose in life as a system that creates and sustains health and well-being: an integrative, testable theory. Review of General Psychology, 13(3), 242-251.

· Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. H. (2008). Know thyself and become what you are: A eudaimonic approach to psychological well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9(1), 13-39.

2. Coherence and Comprehensibility

a) This component conveys the degree of a person’s belief that there is purpose in his life and that things can be understood. For it, there is a transparent and context-based translating framework to explain a life event and add it to the comprehensibility.

b) It is comforting to sustain an image of the world that follows an organized narrative, as it acts as a stabilizer. The world is perceived through that prism. It decreases anxiety when one is confronted with life's ups and downs. It supports the release of happy chemicals, prompts a positive mood, and a better state of mind.

c) References:

· Antonovsky, A. (1993). The structure and properties of the sense of coherence scale. Social Science & Medicine, 36(6), 725-733.

· Heintzelman, S. J., & King, L. A. (2014). Life is pretty meaningful. American Psychologist, 69(6), 561-574.

· Martela, F., & Steger, M. F. (2016). The three meanings of meaning in life: Distinguishing coherence, purpose, and significance. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(5), 531-545.

3. Significance and Mattering

a) This factor relates to feeling that one's existence is consequential and matters in the grand scheme of things. It involves believing that one's life has inherent value and importance.

b) Feelings that are connected to the individual becomes the best source of their purpose. If they understand that they matter in a small way to other people and the world, tangibly speaking, they gain a very essential sense of meaning. This verifies the fact that I as a human am a whole.

c) References:

· George, L. S., & Park, C. L. (2016). Meaning in life as comprehension, purpose, and mattering: Toward integration and new research questions. Review of General Psychology, 20(3), 205-220.

· Machell, K. A., Kashdan, T. B., Short, J. L., & Nezlek, J. B. (2015). Relationships between meaning in life, social and achievement events, and positive and negative affect in daily life. Journal of Personality, 83(3), 287-298.

· Prilleltensky, I. (2014). Meaning-making, mattering, and thriving in community psychology: From co-optation to amelioration and transformation. Psychosocial Intervention, 23(2), 151-154.

4. Connecting and Belonging

a) This factor captures the meaning that comes from having fulfilling relationships and feeling connected to others. It involves a sense of belonging and being valued within one's social circles.

b) Close interpersonal bonds and being embedded in a network of caring relationships provides meaning by meeting the fundamental need for connection. Relationships give life richness and depth.

c) References:

· Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497-529.

· Hicks, J. A., & King, L. A. (2009). Positive mood and social relatedness as information about meaning in life. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(6), 471-482.

· Lambert, N. M., Stillman, T. F., Hicks, J. A., Kamble, S., Baumeister, R. F., & Fincham, F. D. (2013). To belong is to matter: Sense of belonging enhances meaning in life. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39(11), 1418-1427.

5. Transcendence and Self-Actualization

a) This factor is one which a person makes use of in order to get clear of his or her constraints so that he or she can explore their true identity while at the same time find some kind of elation which is spiritual in its nature. This is the process that is embodied by the spirit of being fully present and having the experiences of self-realization.

b) An individual involved in self-fulfilling ventures and transcending things that offer a supernatural perspective, or whatever life yourself, will have a more spacious context to live by. It is a platform for exchange and banishing oneself from the inner spaces of the psychological.

c) References:

· Emmons, R. A. (2005). Striving for the sacred: Personal goals, life meaning, and religion. Journal of Social Issues, 61(4), 731-745.

· Frankl, V. E. (1985). Man's search for meaning. Simon and Schuster.

· Maslow, A. H. (1971). The farther reaches of human nature. Penguin.

Assignment 2(b): Scale Items

Using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree.

Factor 1: Purpose and Goal-Directedness

1. What I do have is the direction of my life which I absolutely know. 2. I now place all my effort and do everything to achieve goals that actually very important to me. 3. Every single day, I tend to steer my everyday life to my long-term plans. 4. I think got bigger reason to live. It seems to me like my life ‘s composed of one overarching mission or calling.

Factor 2: Coherence and Comprehensibility

1. I now have a clearer understanding thru the changes and challenges of my life. 2. I have a way of core meanings behind my life events, the most pleasant and the most pained. 3. I still push myself, even in the hardest trying times, because I trust that cosmic power that constitutes the order of my life. 4. I feel as a whole I have in me a cohesively lived life story.

Factor 3: Significance and Mattering

1. I believe that my life matters. It makes sense, knowing that I do have a role in all the things that are happening. 2. I may not always be visible or noticeable, I remain familiar that my existence makes a difference. 3. I do feel like I am powerless but small acts of kindness that result in a difference however minor could be something that I can do to help other people and the world in general. 4. Just as my own life is valuable and essential, it is also extremely important.

Factor 4: Connecting and Belonging

1. I live in fulfillment of my relationships that give meaning and vulnerability to my life. 2. I sense this profound unity with that special few people in my life. 3. I sure know that I am well taken care of and this has helped me to realize my self-worth. 4. I feel being a part of my college not only makes me feel special but also brings me closer to the society.

Factor 5: Transcendence and Self-Actualization

1. I could not describe so much my feeling, when I was able to think on something much more than myself. 2. First of all, I have great desire to achieve my individual cause of humanism. 3. I can put myself before everyone and his self-benefit just to serve a greater purpose. 4. Meaning and purpose for me are simply two words which describe my spiritual being.