Fate beliefs, meaning construction, and meaning in life

Abstract

How individuals perceive their fates is a fascinating area of study. We proposed a two‐level model of fate perceptions: a higher level (i.e., the life level) with a two‐dimensional structure of global fate beliefs, strength and valence, and a lower level (i.e., the event level) with the same dimensions, yet manifested in fate attributions of specific events. We then examined the relationship between both levels of fate perceptions and meaning in life. It was found that at the higher level, fate strength was negatively associated with meaning in life only when fate valence was negative (Study 1). Analogously, at the lower level, attributing a negative event to fate (i.e., a combination of high fate strength and low fate valence) was negatively correlated with meaning in life (Studies 2 & 3). In Study 4, we found that meaning construction moderated the effects of a global perception of fate valence and fate attribution of a negative event on meaning in life. Individuals would retain an intact sense of meaning if they engaged in meaning construction in the face of adversity, regardless of their perceptions of fate valence or fate attributions. Implications for the study of fate perceptions and meaning‐making are discussed.