Social Psychology Network

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Michael Steger

Michael Steger

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  • SPN Mentor

At the broadest level, my research concerns human well-being. In particular, I am focused on researching how people generate the sense that their lives are meaningful, as well as investigating the benefits of living a meaningful life. One of the more interesting things (to me at least) this research has revealed is that people's search for meaning in life functions pretty much independently from whether or not they feel their lives have meaning. So, one line of my research is invested with better understanding what people are actually doing as they search for meaning, and illuminating the dynamics between the search for and presence of meaning in life.

To get at this question, I've done a number of daily experience sampling studies that allow the analysis of what daily events and pursuits are associated with heightened perceptions of meaning in life, as well as with variations in the intensity of the daily search for meaning.

My current research is looking at interventions to increase meaning, and the role of meaning in stress and health.

Primary Interests:

  • Close Relationships
  • Culture and Ethnicity
  • Emotion, Mood, Affect
  • Health Psychology
  • Helping, Prosocial Behavior
  • Life Satisfaction, Well-Being
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Research Methods, Assessment
  • Self and Identity

Research Group or Laboratory:

Online Studies:

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Journal Articles:

Other Publications:

  • Steger, M. F. (2011). Meaning in life. In S. J. Lopez (Ed.), Handbook of positive psychology (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Courses Taught:

  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Empirically Supported Treatments
  • Intellectual Assessment
  • Interviewing and Intervention in Psychotherapy
  • Leadership
  • Practicum and Field Study Courses in Counseling
  • Psychological Assessment
  • The Scientific Pursuit of Happiness

Michael Steger
Department of Psychology
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1876
United States of America

  • Fax: (970) 491-1032

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