The Crafting Meaning
Scholarship

A blue sky filled with lots of white let

The research categories and topics outlined in this page have emerged from two sources.

The close analysis of 300,000 words of descriptions of Meaninglessness and

transition to strong and clear meaning

and purpose in life.

Years of clinical practice informed by the research findings.

They are intended to inspire rather than limit. As new evidence emerges, additional questions will undoubtedly arise. It is hoped that future researchers will challenge, refine and, where necessary, revise the ideas presented here in the continuing pursuit of scientific understanding.

1. Foundational Validation Studies

Tests of the validity and replicability of the phenomenological research findings.
Independent data analysis, replication studies,
grounded theory studies,
Methodological innovations:
develop and assessment of inputs protocols for AI assisted stages of hermeneutical micro explication
Tests of the phenomenologically definitions of:
Meaninglessness as experienced valuelessness.
Purposelessness as the absence of personally

valued and achievable goals.

Path analysis of variables hypothesised to

trigger meaninglessness:

Trauma: invalidation of value-constructive conceptualizations, value-destroying physical

events, value undermining experiences,

Identity constriction: low value-efficacy, low self awareness, external orientation, identity disruption, value-generating conceptualisations and the onset of meaninglessness.

2. Development & Validation of New Instruments

For measuring:

Meaninglessness as valuelessness:
- Value destructive vs value generating conceptualisations,
  - Value-efficacy
  - Complexity of Self-knowledge: strengths, weaknesses, values, evidence congruent
  - Degree of avoidance, resistance vs integration of negative emotions, experiences, memories, thoughts.
  - Orientation to external causes, solutions, feedback, reward concepualisations versus internals
  - Ofpotentiallly activities
  - Feelings
Purposelessness as lack of personally valued and achievable goals.
- Degree of avoidance, resistance vs integration of negative emotions, experiences, memories, thoughts.

3.Psychological Process
Studies

Testing proposed relationships

between

meaninglessness and

- Learned helplessness
- Low self-value
- Value-inefficacy
- Low self-knowledge
- Value-destructive beliefs
- Orientation to externals
- Narcissistic parenting.Trauma
- Psychological disorders
- Dysthymia.

Testing hypotheses about

neural substrates.

Is chronic meaninglessness a dysfunction of the Default Mode Network?
Neural activation while describing deeply enjoyed processes?.
Neural activation during Resilient Self Therapy of
- Ventromedial prefrontal pre-frontal cortex vs lateral?
- Approach versus defensive motivational neural networks
- Bilateral frontal lobes
Whether Resilient self elaboration can interrupt neural looping between anterior cingulate and defense circuits?

Developmental Studies

Testing Therapeutic Hypotheses

Testing the Components of Resilient Self Therapy

Is elaborating core construing is more effective than challenging negative thoughts?

Is core construct elaboration is more effective than virtue-based interventions

Does early identification and mapping of core constructs linked to client presentation improve:
- Therapy attendance rates?
- Homework compliance?
- Client optimism about therapy?
- Lower therapy dropout rates?.
Does resilient self therapy reduce therapy hours required for positive outcomes?
Does deriving strengths and values from detailed descriptions of enjoyable experience produce greater change than listing or choosing from lists.

4. Clinical Outcome Studies

Testing the effectiveness of interventions

Resilient Self Therapy versus Cognitive Therapy, Practicing Virtues and treatment controls on various outcome measures.

Resilient Self elaboration including trauma construct elaboration as preparation for EMDR in staged trauma treatment.

EMDR effects on meaninglessness and purposelessness.

Spontaneous versus effortful behavioural change following different stages of Resilient Self Therapy.

The Crafting Meaning Scholarship

Longitudinal development of self-knowledge, self-value and value-efficacy.
Parenting practices hypothesised to support meaning and purpose or its absence by impairing or developing self-efficacy, self esteem, individuation
- Praise versus encouragement (Adler) on meaning and purpose in adolescence
- Encouraging versus imposing interests
- Projective vs encouraging individuality
- Validating versus demeaning
- Restrictive verses exploratory
- Chaotic versus predictable
- Unrealistic feedback vs integrating limitation
- Restoration vs non restoration after attachment breaks
- Strength vs deficiency focused.
- Congruence between espoused beliefs and behaviours
- Dogmatism versus exploration of belief alternatives
- Reputation consciousness
- Assertion encouraged vs disallowed
- Selflessness versus self-responsibility encouraged
- Dependency versus independence fostered

Theoretical and Cultural Studies

Prevention and Education

Study of how different cultures offer value-generating answers to the existential questions that characterise meaninglessness,

Who am I? - What can I expect in life? - Why am I valuable? - What do I value? - What is worth me doing?- How can I achieve what I value - What is the value of suffering?

Potential comparative studies of:

Christianity - Indigenous beliefs - Judaism - Taoism - Christianity - Buddhism - Islam - Confucianism - Science - Modern Western secular society.

School programs for developing self-knowledge, self-value and value-efficacy
Media campaigns
- Encouraging living according to according to personal strengths and values versus popularity and extraordinary achievement
Organising workplaces around personal strengths and values by matching tasks to employee strengths.
Cultural consultancy for value-disrupted societies.
Parenting education