Reading and context
Resources and research
These are the sources from the app’s research section. They studied specific exercises and populations, not Existential Thinker. They do not establish that using this app produces the same results. The app provides questions and space to write; it is not a validated clinical intervention.
Expressive writing
Work on expressive writing and written reflection on goals.
- Confronting a traumatic event: Toward an understanding of inhibition and disease
Pennebaker, J. W., & Beall, S. K. (1986).
- Disclosure of traumas and immune function: Health implications for psychotherapy
Pennebaker, J. W., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., & Glaser, R. (1988).
- The Health Benefits of Writing about Life Goals
King, L. A. (2001).
Goal-setting and Self Authoring
Research on structured goal-setting interventions. The titles describe the studies, not benefits promised by the app.
- Setting, elaborating, and reflecting on personal goals improves academic performance
Morisano, D., Hirsh, J. B., Peterson, J. B., Pihl, R. O., & Shore, B. M. (2010).
- A scalable goal-setting intervention closes both the gender and ethnic minority achievement gap
Schippers, M. C., Scheepers, A. W. A., & Peterson, J. B. (2015).
- Program and research
Self Authoring.
Conversation and learning
The conversation covers writing, language, and education. The classroom study concerns daily testing and feedback, a different intervention from journaling.
- Dialogue: Great U Texas Austin Psych Prof JW Pennebaker
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, episode 11 (2017).
- Daily Online Testing in Large Classes: Boosting College Performance while Reducing Achievement Gaps
Pennebaker, J. W., Gosling, S. D., & Ferrell, J. D. (2013).