Welcome to the Psychology Podcast, where we give you insights into the mind, brain, behavior, and creativity.

I'm Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman,

and in each episode I have a conversation with a guest

he will stimulate your mind and give you a greater understanding

of yourself, others, and the world who live in. Hopefully we'll also provide a glimpse

into human possibility. Thanks for William Damon on the podcast. Dr.

Damon is director of the Stanford Center on Adolescence and he's also a professor of education at

Stanford University. Dr. Damon's current research supports how young people

develop purpose in their civic, work, family, and community relationships.

He examines how people learn to approach their vocational work, family, and community relationships.

He examines how people learn to approach their vocational and civic lives

with a focus on purpose, imagination, and high standards of excellence.

Dr. Damon also has written widely about how to educate for moral and ethical understanding.

Dr Damon's most recent books include the power of ideals, failing liberty 101,

and the path of purpose, helping our children find their calling in life.

What a great honor it is to chat with you today.

It's my pleasure.

Wow, I want to start off by asking how you define the word purpose?

Good question because that's something that we spent actually about a year really thinking

through and reading philosophy and theology and seeing how the word had been used throughout history.

So there are three important components to the definition that we developed.

One is that purpose is a long-term goal.

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