Universität zu Köln

Baldwin, Matthew, Landau, Mark J. and Swanson, Trevor J. (2018). Metaphors can give life meaning. Self Identity, 17 (2). S. 163 - 194. ABINGDON: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. ISSN 1529-8876

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Abstract

Conceptual metaphor theory offers a perspective on how and when people find meaning in life. Whereas life's meaning can be difficult to grasp, metaphor compares life to a relatively more concrete and structured concept. Supporting this account, American adults (Study 1) and German undergraduates (Study 2) who framed life as a journey reported more meaning in life. The journey metaphor was particularly beneficial for individuals with low levels of perceived coherence in life (Study 2). Study 3 further explored this pattern of moderation: An accessible metaphor, compared to other life framings, benefited participants who lack a strong meaning framework. Study 4 focused on the mechanism behind metaphor's influence. Participants who imagined events from their life journey perceived stronger interrelatedness among those events as measured with an analog spatial organization task. Perceived interrelatedness in turn predicted meaning in life, particularly for individuals with a strong preference for well-structured knowledge. Finally, participants who applied their own metaphor to life expressed greater meaning (Study 5), especially those high in personal need for structure (Study 6). An internal meta-analysis of these findings provides cumulative evidence for metaphor's influence on perceived meaning in life and reveals moderating features of the individual.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Baldwin, Matthew UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Landau, Mark J. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Swanson, Trevor J. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-204306
DOI:	10.1080/15298868.2017.1368696
Journal or Publication Title:	Self Identity
Volume:	17
Number:	2
Page Range:	S. 163 - 194
Date:	2018
Publisher:	ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Place of Publication:	ABINGDON
ISSN:	1529-8876
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language SIMILARITY; EXPERIENCE; DISTANCE; BEHAVIOR; SUICIDE; SEARCH; LEVEL; TRUE; WELL Multiple languages Psychology, Social Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/20430