TY - JOUR
T1 - Self-regulation facilitates meaning in life
AU - Van Tongeren, Daryl R.
AU - DeWall, C. Nathan
AU - Green, Jeffrey D.
AU - Cairo, Athena H.
AU - Davis, Don E.
AU - Hook, Joshua N.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Psychological Association.
PY - 2018/3
Y1 - 2018/3
N2 - Meaning is a central feature of human life. Our overarching proposition is that self-regulation helps facilitate meaning in life. We propose that purposeful, effortful, and directive actions that regulate selfish impulses are necessary to continually develop a sense of meaning in life. We explain how self-regulatory processes map onto this process: the drive for meaning is governed by internalized standards of meaning, people monitor their experiences to ensure a fit between their experiences and standards of meaning, and strength is required for deliberative behaviors aimed at reaffirming and regaining meaning. Moreover, we outline various self-regulatory pathways to gain meaning via coherence, significance, and purpose. Finally, we suggest various ways to test and expand our model and hypotheses.
AB - Meaning is a central feature of human life. Our overarching proposition is that self-regulation helps facilitate meaning in life. We propose that purposeful, effortful, and directive actions that regulate selfish impulses are necessary to continually develop a sense of meaning in life. We explain how self-regulatory processes map onto this process: the drive for meaning is governed by internalized standards of meaning, people monitor their experiences to ensure a fit between their experiences and standards of meaning, and strength is required for deliberative behaviors aimed at reaffirming and regaining meaning. Moreover, we outline various self-regulatory pathways to gain meaning via coherence, significance, and purpose. Finally, we suggest various ways to test and expand our model and hypotheses.
KW - Meaning
KW - Self-regulation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85027967814&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1037/gpr0000121
DO - 10.1037/gpr0000121
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85027967814
SN - 1089-2680
VL - 22
SP - 95
EP - 106
JO - Review of General Psychology
JF - Review of General Psychology
IS - 1
ER -