Book examines life purpose, from ancient wisdom to emerging science

What is your purpose? It's a question that you may have asked yourself, perhaps using it as a compass to set your life's direction.

Anthony Burrow, professor of psychology in the College of Human Ecology, studies purpose, a central, self-organizing life aim that influences one's goals, behaviors and sense of meaning. Studies show that purpose can positively impact a person's health, well-being and personal development.

People have been thinking about purpose since the time of ancient Greeks and Romans, providing the basis for purpose research today, with Burrow at the forefront. He and research colleague Patrick Hill of Washington University in St. Louis have published a new book, "Purpose in Life as Ancient but Nascent"(Cambridge University Press). In the book, they and other scholars explore purpose through the lens of psychology, philosophy and human development to help guide the reader to cultivate their own sense of purpose.

The Chronicle talked with Burrow about the book.

Question: Why did you and Hill want to bring together these perspectives on purpose?

Answer: The topic of purpose is enjoying resurgent interest from academic researchers, educators, business leaders, youth-organization directors and beyond. Yet this interest is often met with insights that draw from isolated disciplines, so those new to the topic get exposed to just a narrow slice of perspectives. We wanted to showcase the inherent complexity of this topic by inviting a broader range of perspectives on purpose. Readers may appreciate some of the places where bridging these perspectives is simple and straightforward; they may also appreciate the stubborn differences across others.

Q: The book title frames purpose as both ancient wisdom and emerging science. Is there tension between the two that creates opportunities or challenges?

A: Developing this volume helped me see that this tension is more productive than problematic. It is worth appreciating just how long people have wondered about the topic of purpose in life - it's been a longstanding curiosity throughout history. Researchers interested in purpose may be motivated less by discovering something entirely new than by the chance to connect their questions to a much wider tapestry of questions about the human experience than is possible with other topics.

Q: What is an insight or idea from the book that challenges conventional thinking about purpose? Why does it matter for how people live their lives?

A: In Chapter 7, Kaylin Ratner, Ph.D. '20, makes key points about the role of universities in helping (or hindering) purpose development among students. She reminds readers that purpose development is not merely an individual quest but is instead always moored by available environmental supports - or their absence. She further discusses important pitfalls of failing to support student purpose development, which is a perspective we must confront honestly.

Another insight comes from Chapter 3, which I worked on with Marissa Rice, Ph.D. '20. It challenges a widely held assumption that purpose is something to be found. While "finding purpose" is perhaps an understandable phrase, it lacks an empirical basis on how purpose is acquired. Instead, we consider how purpose might be activated, cultivated or facilitated, a shift that moves people from passively waiting to discover their purpose to deliberately building it by engaging with the world around them. This reframing also invites institutions and communities to thoughtfully design opportunities or spaces for us to explore or experiment, which makes purpose acquisition possible.

Q: Who do you hope reads this book? How could it shift how they think about their own sense of purpose?

A: We believe that this book is for anyone. But if nudged to pick a specific audience, it would be those individuals who are best positioned to help others think about, understand and even develop a sense of purpose. We think the book is best thought of as a collection of actionable insights for those who can create the conditions for others to lead lives of purpose.

Q: What questions about purpose do you still have after editing this book?

A: I want to further understand when hardship catalyzes purpose versus when it extinguishes it. As societies seem increasingly complex, discovering more about this seems vital, as does ensuring that the findings are effectively translated to people and communities who are best positioned to put them to good use.

Juan Vazquez-Leddon is the communications director for the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research.