Purpose and Identity Processes Lab - Cornell University
A sense of purpose can be cultivated.
The Purpose and Identity Processes Lab studies the correlates and consequences of having a sense of purpose, and the conditions that support its cultivation in everyday life.
What we are finding
Purpose predicts happiness, hope, and healthy behavior.
Across many of our studies, purpose is linked with greater happiness, hope, positive mood, and willingness to engage in healthy behaviors.
Purpose buffers everyday hassles and stress.
It can buffer or eliminate negative moods that arise from everyday hassles and socially challenging situations.
It even tempers extreme highs.
The benefits go beyond stress: purpose also helps curtail reactivity to extreme positive feelings after uplifting events or positive feedback on social media.
The when of purpose may matter as much as the what.
Sense of purpose fluctuates in daily life. Moments of greater felt purpose correspond with greater adjustment.
Current translational research initiative
Portraits of Purposeful Youth
An interactive translational initiative exploring youth purpose across personal, experiential, and contextual lenses.
It examines how youth purpose is seen across a variety of roles and perspectives, drawing on developmental science, positive youth development, and identity research.
Research
