Publication Authors:
Heather Malin, Research Associate
The arts are important avenues of purpose development for many young people. In our research on youth purpose, the cases of artistic purpose raise important questions about what it means for a young person to contribute beyond the self, pursue life goals, and engage in personally meaningful endeavors. The discussion will start with some of these artistic cases and consider them in light of current thinking about youth purpose. What do these cases tell us about the ways that young people seek to make meaning in their lives and contribute beyond the self? And more broadly, what can we learn about youth purpose by examining how purpose manifests in different domains?