Purpose, self-other overlap, and subjective well-being: A cluster analysis of distinct features of purpose
| dc.contributor.author | Schmidt, Christa | |
| dc.contributor.chair | Burrow, Anthony | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Casasanto, Daniel | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-08-10T20:07:39Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-08-10T20:07:39Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2020-05 | |
| dc.description | 44 pages | |
| dc.description.abstract | A substantial body of research suggests possessing a purpose in life is beneficial for well-being. Yet, the diverse conceptual and methodological approaches that comprise this field vary widely in the mechanisms offered to explain these benefits. In this exploratory study, I consider three prominent approaches to the study of purpose in life that have emerged in recent decades: (1) the psychological well-being approach, (2) the beyond-the-self approach, and (3) the self-organizing life aim approach. Using measures designed to assess purpose uniquely within each approach, their combined association with indicators of subjective well-being are examined. A hierarchical cluster analysis conducted with a sample of adults (N = 935) indicated the presence of four distinct clusters: self-focused, meandering, high purpose, and high purpose & self-other overlap. Two clusters, high purpose and high purpose & self-other overlap, reported the highest levels of subject well-being overall, yet differed significantly on positive affect. Namely, high purpose & self-other overlap reported the highest levels of positive affect overall, suggesting that perceiving greater self-other overlap is important in optimizing the subjective well-being benefits of purpose. Overall, findings from this study motivate more person-centered analyses that integrate various approaches to purpose, and the discussion considers the promise of cross-cultural research into the various ways people feel connected to others. | |
| dc.identifier.doi | https://doi.org/10.7298/aap5-f468 | |
| dc.identifier.other | Schmidt_cornell_0058O_10877 | |
| dc.identifier.other | http://dissertations.umi.com/cornell:10877 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1813/70301 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.rights | Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International | |
| dc.rights.uri | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ | |
| dc.subject | Beyond-The-Self | |
| dc.subject | cluster analysis | |
| dc.subject | purpose | |
| dc.subject | self | |
| dc.subject | self-other overlap | |
| dc.subject | subjective well-being | |
| dc.title | Purpose, self-other overlap, and subjective well-being: A cluster analysis of distinct features of purpose | |
| dc.type | dissertation or thesis | |
| dcterms.license | https://hdl.handle.net/1813/59810 | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Human Development | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Cornell University | |
| thesis.degree.level | Master of Arts | |
| thesis.degree.name | M.A., Human Development |
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