Institute of Anthropology of PurposeHow humans seek who to become and how to live Choose Your Path ↓ |
AoP | Laboratory
For those exploring the phenomenon of purpose.
Study with us the Anthropology of Purpose, the D/O/S/N model as a universal mechanism of human orientation, and other aspects of this field.
Help us understand how humans find their life path — and how we can help others discover their purpose.
→ [I’m exploring the theory]
Study with us the Anthropology of Purpose, the D/O/S/N model as a universal mechanism of human orientation, and other aspects of this field.
Help us understand how humans find their life path — and how we can help others discover their purpose.
→ [I’m exploring the theory]
ZERNO Project
For those seeking their direction and support along the way.
It helps you find your natural role in life, discover the path you are meant to follow, and receive real guidance.
→ [I’m seeking my path]
It helps you find your natural role in life, discover the path you are meant to follow, and receive real guidance.
→ [I’m seeking my path]
The Idea
“Purpose ≠ Meaning”
The Anthropology of Purpose starts with a simple observation:
the human search for purpose is not the same as the search for meaning.
Meaning asks why to live; purpose asks how to live and who to become.
This search is not a metaphor or a cultural fashion —
it is a universal human function of orientation.
When the mind loses inner direction, people create external maps —
religions, philosophies, role-ethics, divination, or modern psychology —
to restore their sense of “where they are and what to do.”
Our research proposes that this process is rooted in a
cognitive mechanism of orientation, composed of four functions:
Diagnosis (who am I)
Orientation (where am I)
Strategy/Timing (what and when to act)
Normativity (what is right).
Together they form the D/O/S/N model.
the human search for purpose is not the same as the search for meaning.
Meaning asks why to live; purpose asks how to live and who to become.
This search is not a metaphor or a cultural fashion —
it is a universal human function of orientation.
When the mind loses inner direction, people create external maps —
religions, philosophies, role-ethics, divination, or modern psychology —
to restore their sense of “where they are and what to do.”
Our research proposes that this process is rooted in a
cognitive mechanism of orientation, composed of four functions:
Diagnosis (who am I)
Orientation (where am I)
Strategy/Timing (what and when to act)
Normativity (what is right).
Together they form the D/O/S/N model.
FOR RESEARCHERS
AoP | Research Program
The Anthropology of Purpose builds an academic foundation for understanding
how humans orient themselves in life — how they construct inner coordinates,
find direction, and restore it when the system fails.
Our research brings together philosophy, anthropology, cognitive science,
and psychotherapeutic approaches to study how the internal mechanisms of orientation work
and which cultural forms help people maintain a sense of direction —
in moments of choice, transition, crisis, and growth.
We explore how different eras have created and renewed
their orientation maps, helping people regain a sense of where they are and what to do.
We focus on four key directions:
🔹 The D/O/S/N Hypothesis — a model of four cognitive functions of orientation:
Diagnosis, Orientation, Strategy/Timing, and Normativity.
🔹 The AoP-Index (0–4) — a tool for assessing how fully these functions are expressed
within any system — from philosophy to psychotherapy.
🔹 Cross-Cultural Archives — a collection of orientation practices
from different historical periods and individual life transitions.
🔹 Applied Research — how insights into orientation help modern individuals
restore inner order and a sense of life direction.
Our goal is to understand how the human mechanism of orientation operates
and how this knowledge can be applied in anthropology, psychology,
and practical methods that help people find their path.
The Research section features the key publications and materials of the project:
the AoP framework study, the D/O/S/N hypothesis, the AoP-Index overview,
as well as preprints SSRN and reports on Zenodo, OSF.
Here you can explore conceptual papers, working notes, and join the open AoP Laboratory.
The Anthropology of Purpose builds an academic foundation for understanding
how humans orient themselves in life — how they construct inner coordinates,
find direction, and restore it when the system fails.
Our research brings together philosophy, anthropology, cognitive science,
and psychotherapeutic approaches to study how the internal mechanisms of orientation work
and which cultural forms help people maintain a sense of direction —
in moments of choice, transition, crisis, and growth.
We explore how different eras have created and renewed
their orientation maps, helping people regain a sense of where they are and what to do.
We focus on four key directions:
🔹 The D/O/S/N Hypothesis — a model of four cognitive functions of orientation:
Diagnosis, Orientation, Strategy/Timing, and Normativity.
🔹 The AoP-Index (0–4) — a tool for assessing how fully these functions are expressed
within any system — from philosophy to psychotherapy.
🔹 Cross-Cultural Archives — a collection of orientation practices
from different historical periods and individual life transitions.
🔹 Applied Research — how insights into orientation help modern individuals
restore inner order and a sense of life direction.
Our goal is to understand how the human mechanism of orientation operates
and how this knowledge can be applied in anthropology, psychology,
and practical methods that help people find their path.
The Research section features the key publications and materials of the project:
the AoP framework study, the D/O/S/N hypothesis, the AoP-Index overview,
as well as preprints SSRN and reports on Zenodo, OSF.
Here you can explore conceptual papers, working notes, and join the open AoP Laboratory.
ZERNO PROJECT
For those seeking their direction and support along the way.
ZERNO unifies 19 self-knowledge systems into one orientation map: understand your natural role, choose a path of realization, and get real support from professionals.
Why
People often know why to live — but lose the vector of how to live and who to become.
ZERNO helps restore a sense of direction: who I am → where I am → what to do → what is right (D/O/S/N).
How it works
1) ZERNO | Core
We have synthesized 19 self-knowledge systems used by people across different cultures and eras.
The test provides an honest foundational profile: your strengths, natural roles, and directions of realization.
2) ZERNO | Professional Scenario
Based on your Core results, we create step-by-step realization scenarios in your key directions — what to try, where to study or work, and what concrete actions to take.
3) ZERNO | Support
Weekly guidance to help you stay on course: group sessions, case reviews, and personal calls with psychologists and career and realization coaches.
Our task is to help you take real steps — in business projects, in professional growth, and in your personal path.
ZERNO unifies 19 self-knowledge systems into one orientation map: understand your natural role, choose a path of realization, and get real support from professionals.
Why
People often know why to live — but lose the vector of how to live and who to become.
ZERNO helps restore a sense of direction: who I am → where I am → what to do → what is right (D/O/S/N).
How it works
1) ZERNO | Core
We have synthesized 19 self-knowledge systems used by people across different cultures and eras.
The test provides an honest foundational profile: your strengths, natural roles, and directions of realization.
2) ZERNO | Professional Scenario
Based on your Core results, we create step-by-step realization scenarios in your key directions — what to try, where to study or work, and what concrete actions to take.
3) ZERNO | Support
Weekly guidance to help you stay on course: group sessions, case reviews, and personal calls with psychologists and career and realization coaches.
Our task is to help you take real steps — in business projects, in professional growth, and in your personal path.
Roman I. Golushko
Founder & Research Director
Roman Golushko is an independent researcher, philosopher, and anthropologist focusing on cognitive processes. He is the author of the Anthropology of Purpose (AoP) — a new framework that examines how people across different eras and cultures searched for life orientation: who to be and how to live.
He is also the author of the D/O/S/N Hypothesis, a model of a universal cognitive mechanism of orientation. The hypothesis explains how a person maintains and restores a sense of direction in life, and proposes a new conceptual framework for psychology, neuroscience, anthropology, and artificial intelligence systems.
He also created ZERNO, a practical system that translates this theory
into real human support: from understanding one’s natural roles
to building professional and life scenarios.
The mission of the Institute is to unite research and practice —
to help people restore inner orientation, direction, and purpose.
📧 roman27reg@gmail.com
ORCID Zenodo OSF SSRN Medium X (Twitter)
He is also the author of the D/O/S/N Hypothesis, a model of a universal cognitive mechanism of orientation. The hypothesis explains how a person maintains and restores a sense of direction in life, and proposes a new conceptual framework for psychology, neuroscience, anthropology, and artificial intelligence systems.
He also created ZERNO, a practical system that translates this theory
into real human support: from understanding one’s natural roles
to building professional and life scenarios.
The mission of the Institute is to unite research and practice —
to help people restore inner orientation, direction, and purpose.
📧 roman27reg@gmail.com
ORCID Zenodo OSF SSRN Medium X (Twitter)
