Understanding the Search for Meaning in Life: Personality, Cognitive Style, and the Dynamic Between Seeking and Experiencing Meaning

Abstract

Although several theories assert that understanding the search for meaning in life is important, empirical research on this construct is sparse. Three studies provide the first extensive effort to understand the correlates of the search for meaning in a multistudy research program. Assessed were relations between search for meaning and well-being, cognitive style, and the Big Five, Big Three, Approach/Avoidance, and Interest models of personality, with a particular emphasis on understanding the correlates of search for meaning that are independent of presence of meaning. Conceptual models of the relation between search and presence were tested. Findings suggest that people lacking meaning search for it; the search for meaning did not appear to lead to its presence. Study 3 found that basic motive dispositions moderated relations between search for meaning and its presence. Results highlight the importance of basic personality dispositions in understanding the search for meaning and its correlates.

Autoethnography and cognitive adaptation: two powerful buffers against the negative consequences of workplace bullying and academic mobbing

“…Researchers and practitioners have come to understand that searching for meaning in life, and making sense of situations—both positive and negative—are central to how people ensure that their lives seem organized, significant, purposeful and valuable (Steger, 2009; Steger, Frazier, Oisgi, & Kaler, 2006; Steger, Kashdan, Sullivan, & Lorentz, 2008; Taylor, 1983; Vanhooren, Leijssen, & Dezutter, 2016). Meaning in life has been conceptualized as “the extent to which people comprehend, make sense of, or see significance in their lives, accompanied by the degree to which they perceive themselves to have a purpose, mission, or over-arching aim in life” (Steger, 2009, p. 682).…”

“…Meaning in life has been conceptualized as “the extent to which people comprehend, make sense of, or see significance in their lives, accompanied by the degree to which they perceive themselves to have a purpose, mission, or over-arching aim in life” (Steger, 2009, p. 682). The presence of meaning has been defined as an individual’s perception of his or her life being significant, purposeful and valuable (Steger et al, 2006), such that people experience meaning when they comprehend the world, when they understand their place in it and can identify what they want to accomplish in life (Steger et al, 2008). Meaning in life concepts also converge with the concept of sense making, that is, the process through which people perceive their lives as meaningful even when they are not able to explain and understand their experiences (Proulx, Markman, & Lindberg, 2013).…”

Personality Traits and Positive/Negative Affects: An Analysis of Meaning in Life among Adults

“…Findings of relevant studies establish a positive correlation between openness to experience and the search for meaning in life (Steger et al, 2008), and suggest that negative affects are triggered when the need for meaning in life is not satisfied (Maddi, 1970;Pan et al, 2007).…”

“…Another variable that shapes the search for meaning in life is negative affect. According to Steger et al (2008), individuals who are disappointed are dissatisfied with their lives, have lost control, and are not happy in their relationships, are more apt to search for meaning more in life. Frankl (2010) argues that the search for meaning in life leads to internal tension, adding that this is a pre-condition for psychological health.…”

“…Conscientiousness is related to leadership, self-discipline, goal-orientation, self-sufficiency, orderliness, sense of mission, productivity, and determination (Costa & McCrae, 1995), while agreeableness is defined as being reliable, agreeable, straight-forward, self-giving, and modest (Bono et al, 2002). Current conceptualizations associated with the concept of meaning in life present different personality traits; for instance, meaning in life is negatively correlated with neuroticism (Halama, 2005;Moomal, 1999) but positively correlated with extroversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness (Lavigne et al, 2013;Mascaro & Rosen, 2005;Steger, Kashdan, Sullivan, & Lorentz, 2008). In the light of these theoretical insights, it can be asserted that personality traits and positive/negative affects are significant variables in interpreting meaning in life.…”