The College of Science & Engineering Department of Psychology invites you to attend this Green Honors Chair lecture presented by Dr. Laura A. King.

This lecture is open to all TCU faculty, staff, and students on Monday, April 22 from 7-8pm in the BLUU Auditorium.

"The Science of Meaning in Life"

Meaning in life has often been portrayed as a rare and fragile experience, something we search for but rarely find. Simultaneously, the experience of meaning has been portrayed as a vital for survival. Nothing we need to vital for survive can be rare or human beings would have long since been rendered extinct. In this talk, Dr. King will answer the question, “What makes life meaningful?” reviewing evidence suggesting that many beliefs about meaning in life are mistaken and likely spring from the common human motivation to experience life as meaningful. The experience of meaning in life comes, not only from profound experiences but also from every day experiences that allow us to say answer the question, “Does my life have meaning?” in the affirmative. Like most people, your life is probably pretty meaningful.  

Laura A. King received her A.B. in English Literature and Psychology from Kenyon College and her PhD in Personality Psychology from the University of California, Davis. She was on the faculty of Southern Methodist University for 10 years prior to moving to the University of Missouri, Columbia, where she is a Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Psychological Sciences. At SMU she received numerous teaching awards and recently received the Purple Chalk Award for teaching excellence from the Mizzou Student Council. A personality/social psychologist, Laura’s research concerns well-being, especially meaning in life, narrative approaches, and folk theories of The Good Life. Whatever the topic, her work reflects an enduring interest in everyday people and their everyday lives. She has published over 100 articles and chapters. She received the Carol and Ed Diener Award for Distinguished Midcareer Contributions to Personality in 2011; the award for Distinguished Service to SPSP in 2015; and the 2018 Jack Block Award for Distinguished Research in Personality Psychology. Her work has been impactful, placing her in the top 1% of social psychologists. A past president of SPSP, Laura served as editor or associate editor for a number of journals and was the first woman to edit the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology:  Personality Processes and Individual Differences. Most recently she was editor of Perspectives on Psychological Science. She has been a vocal advocate for diversity in these leadership roles.