人生目的是一種個體想要完成的,首先是對自我有意義,進而是對超越個人之外的世界有影響的穩定的具有概括性的意圖。它有著與意義、目標不同的內涵。人生目的是能夠預示健康、成功和幸福等積極發展結果的更高層級的心理結構。它能給個體帶來更多良好的心理狀態;對消極狀態和消極發展結果具有抵御作用;能促進個體的積極發展;有利于個體取得更高的成就。人生目的的發展具有階段性。個體早期參與的一些潛在的目的性的活動、社會支持以及社會文化會影響人生目的的形成和發展。未來研究需要更深入探討人生目的的測量、發展規律、功能、作用機制及培養,并基于特定的文化情境進行文化研究和跨文化研究。

Purpose is a stable and generalized intention to accomplish something that is at once meaningful to the self and of consequence to the world beyond the self. It has distinct connotation from meaning and goals. Purpose in life represents a higher-level psychological construct that offers insight into how and why certain people are healthy, successful and happy in the long-term. Having a purpose in life results in benefits in several aspects: it can promote individuals’ well-being, fend off negative experiences and behaviors, promote individual’ positive development, and facilitate higher level of achievement. Purpose in life originates from the opportunity to engage in potentially purposeful activities. Social support and culture could influence the development process of purpose in life. We concluded with an agenda for future research on the measurement, law of development, function, nomological network, ways of training, cultural and cross-cultural investigation of purpose in life.