Abstract Psychological research suggests a sense of purpose in life is a coveted asset, with well-established linkages to well-being and healthy functioning. But how do individuals preserve this sense when previously reliable settings – and the opportunities they afford – are profoundly disrupted? The current moment provides a formidable test of this question, as widespread transmission of Covid-19 and intense efforts to slow it drastically transform our environment. Here, we consider how the experience of purpose may be impacted by disruptions in three key person-environment interactions: how we engage with work, how we engage in education, and how we manage physical proximity. We hope to motivate critical thinking about how this pandemic, and our collective responses to it, influence the experience of purpose and delineate a research agenda that may inform how individuals’ can preserve a sense of engagement and contribution.

中文翻译：

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设计或灾难的目的：在环境不确定性中保持目的感

摘要 心理学研究表明，人生目标感是一种令人垂涎的资产，与幸福感和健康功能有着密切的联系。但是，当以前可靠的环境——以及他们提供的机会——被严重破坏时，个人如何保持这种感觉？当前时刻对这个问题进行了严峻的考验，因为 Covid-19 的广泛传播和减缓它的巨大努力彻底改变了我们的环境。在这里，我们考虑了三种关键的人与环境互动的中断如何影响目标体验：我们如何参与工作、我们如何参与教育以及我们如何管理物理距离。我们希望激发关于这种流行病以及我们对它的集体反应如何的批判性思考，