Big Life Journal – Teen Edition

Research Sources

The following studies, research materials, and books were used in the creation process of the
journal.

Chapter 1: It All Starts Here

Books

The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge

Psychiatrist Norman Doidge highlights how neuroplasticity works and explores interesting
ways in which psychologists are studying brain changes in multiple domains.

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

Stanford researcher Carol Dweck breaks down her research on how mindset – our beliefs about
whether ability is innate or malleable – can affect our performance in life.

Attack of the Teenage Brain! by John Medina

Molecular biologist John Medina dives into the mechanics of how the brains of adolescents
function – and how to influences their neuroplasticity more effectively.

Studies

“Adolescent neurodevelopment”
A study explains how the adolescent brain develops and is constantly changing:

Spear L. P. (2013). Adolescent neurodevelopment. The Journal of adolescent health : official

publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 52(2 Suppl 2), S7–S13.

“The Neuroscience of Growth Mindset and Intrinsic Motivation”

A study breaking down the interplay between growth mindset and intrinsic motivation:

Ng B. (2018). The Neuroscience of Growth Mindset and Intrinsic Motivation. Brain sciences,
8(2), 20.

“Effects of Small-Talk: A Systematic Review”

A meta-analysis of studies shows the influence of self-talk on performance:

Tod, David & Hardy, James & Oliver, Emily. (2011). Effects of Self-Talk: A Systematic
Review. Journal of sport & exercise psychology. 33. 666-87.

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 Additional Resources

“What We Know About Growth Mindset from Scientific Research”

Carissa Romero provides a brief, well-organized overview of studies on Growth Mindset:
http://mindsetscholarsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/What-We-Know-About-
Growth-Mindset.pdf

Chapter 2: Exploring You

Books

Purpose in Life: A Critical Component of Optimal Youth Development by Kendall Cotton Bronk
This comprehensive text synthesizes the research on what, why, and how to help youth develop
purpose and explore their strengths.

The Path to Purpose by William Damon

Stanford Researcher William Damon has spent over thirty years researching purpose in youth.
This book compiles his greatest findings.

Studies

“Resiliency theory: a strengths-based approach to research and practice for adolescent health”
A summary of research on resiliency theory, which is helping adolescents use their strengths
and interests to overcome challenges and improve their well-being:

Zimmerman M. A. (2013). Resiliency theory: a strengths-based approach to research and

practice for adolescent health. Health education & behavior : the official publication of
the Society for Public Health Education, 40(4), 381–383.

“Adolescent Purpose Development: Exploring Empathy, Discovering Roles, Shifting Priorities, and
Creating Pathways”
A comprehensive study explains that adolescent purpose-development embodies certain
stages.

Malin, H., Reilly, T.S., Quinn, B. & Moran, S. (2013). Adolescent Purpose Development:
Exploring Empathy, Discovering Roles, Shifting Priorities, and Creating Pathways. Journal of
Research on Adolescence: Society for Research on Adolescence

Additional Resources

The Purpose Challenge

A free, research-based, multi-lesson toolkit providing videos, readings, and challenges to help
adolescents explore their strengths, interests, and purpose: www.purposechallenge.org

“The Why Question”

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 Researcher Will Damon explains the importance of helping teenagers explore and understand
their “Why”: https://www.educationnext.org/the-why-question-2/

“How to Help Teens Find Their Purpose”

A break down of multiple strategies to help adolescents explore purpose and passion:
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_help_teens_find_purpose_ga=2.11
2870924.984514349.1562697583-1063520686.1562697583

Chapter 3: Dreaming Up Your Life

Books

Why We Do What We Do by Edward Deci

Researcher Edward Deci explores the three fundamental aspects of self-determination theory:
autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Studies

“Goal attainment, goal striving, and well-being during the transition to adulthood: a ten-year U.S.
national longitudinal study”
A longitudinal study of over 5,000 teenagers shows that goal-striving benefits well-being:

Messersmith, E. E., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2010). Goal attainment, goal striving, and well-being
during the transition to adulthood: a ten-year U.S. national longitudinal study. New
directions for child and adolescent development, 2010(130), 27–40.

“Goal striving, need satisfaction, and longitudinal well-being: The self-concordance model”
Researchers show that when individuals pursue goals that are self-concordant, they put in more
effort and reap greater well-being in the process.

Sheldon, K. M., & Elliot, A. J. (1999). Goal striving, need satisfaction, and longitudinal well-
being: The self-concordance model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76(3), 482-
497.

Additional Resources

selfdeterminationtheory.org
A compilation of hundreds of peer-reviewed studies on motivation. Studies are broken by topic,
including motivation, goals, and self-esteem

“Goal Setting is Linked to Higher Achievement”

Doctor Marilyn Price-Mitchell explores research and strategies for using goal-setting to help
teenagers reach better outcomes: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-moment-
youth/201803/goal-setting-is-linked-higher-achievement

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 Chapter 4: From Dreams to Reality

Books

Re-thinking Postive Thinking by Gabriele Oettingen

NYU researcher Oettingen breaks down studies on visualizing goals and turning them into
reality by planning for obstacles.

Studies

“Self-regulation strategies improve self-discipline in adolescents: benefits of mental contrasting and

implementation intentions”
A team of researchers use a controlled study to show the benefits of anticipating obstacles for
teenagers:

Self-regulation strategies improve self-discipline in adolescents: Benefits of mental contrasting

and implementation intentions. Educational Psychology. 31(1), pp. 17-26. ISSN 0144-3410.

Additional Resources

WoopMyLife.org
A website created by Gabriele Oettingen to help individuals apply her research on goal-setting
and planning for obstacles.

“Why Our Brains Like Short-Term Goals”

Author Monica Mehta explains the science behind why we like short-term goals (and how to
use that to fuel long-term ambitions): https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/225356

“Understanding Addiction”
A Harvard guide describing how pleasure and reward circuits influence our behavior. Using
these concepts for positive goal-striving can fuel our motivation:
https://www.helpguide.org/harvard/how-addiction-hijacks-the-brain.htm

Chapter 5: The Key to Success

Books

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

This bestseller uses engaging narratives and hundreds of studies to show the science of how
habits are made – and how they affect our lives.

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey

Sean extends the work of his father, Steven Covey, to help adolescents develop positive,

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 successful habits.

Studies

“The Teenage Brain: Self-Control”

This article highlights how self-control varies based on age, context, and individual differences
for teenagers:

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0963721413480170

“Learning goal orientation and locus of control interact to predict academic self-concept and academic
performance in college students”
A replication study explores the relationship between locus of control and self-concept. The
results suggest that helping students cultivate their locus of control can improve their outcomes:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jason_Dahling/publication/299569974_Learning_g
oal_orientation_and_locus_of_control_interact_to_predict_academic_self-
concept_and_academic_performance_in_college_students/links/5a201a8b0f7e9bfc48fdf3e4/Le
arning-goal-orientation-and-locus-of-control-interact-to-predict-academic-self-concept-and-
academic-performance-in-college-students.pdf

“Can having internal locus of control insure against negative shocks? Psychological evidence from
panel data”
A study shows that having an internal locus of control helps people overcome intense
adversities in life. More support for internal locus of control:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5510663/

Additional Resources

“How to Learn from Mistakes”

This playlist of TED talks explores many stories and studies on learning from failure:
https://www.ted.com/playlists/303/how_to_learn_from_mistakes

“5 Best Books About Learning From Failure”

A summary of five titles that explore mistake-making and how it shapes our success:
https://medium.com/@ShaneLester2016/5-best-books-about-learning-from-failure-
db1fe8b2fac1

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