A scientific approach to a meaningful life | Joshua Hicks | TEDxTAMU

Dr. Joshua Hicks presents the meaning of life through the psychological sciences. He discusses definitions, influences, and outcomes of the primary determinants that produce meaning.

Joshua Hicks is a Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Texas A&M University. He received his Ph.D. in personality and social psychology at the University of Missouri. His research aims to understand how people answer the “big” questions in life and how their answers to those questions influence the way they think, feel, and behave. Specifically, his research examines the antecedents and consequences of the experience of meaning in life, authenticity, true self-knowledge and self-alienation, perceptions of free-will, and mortality awareness. Dr. Hicks has approximately 100 academic publications. His work has been featured in Scientific American, Washington Post, Vice Magazine, Greater Good Magazine, Prevention, IAI tv, NPR’s Think, among other outlets. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx