TY - JOUR
T1 - Stability and Change in Personality Traits and Major Life Goals From College to Midlife
AU - Atherton, Olivia E.
AU - Grijalva, Emily
AU - Roberts, Brent W.
AU - Robins, Richard W.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.
PY - 2021/5
Y1 - 2021/5
N2 - The association between personality traits and motivational units, such as life goals, has been a long-standing interest of personality scientists. However, little research has investigated the longitudinal associations between traits and life goals beyond young adulthood. In the present study (N = 251), we examined the rank-order stability of, and mean-level changes in, the Big Five and major life goals (Aesthetic, Economic, Family/Relationship, Hedonistic, Political, Religious, Social) from college (age 18) to midlife (age 40), as well as their co-development. Findings showed that personality traits and major life goals were both moderately-to-highly stable over 20 years. On average, there were mean-level increases in the Big Five and mean-level decreases in life goals over time. Patterns of co-development suggest people formulate goals consistent with their personality traits, and conversely, investing in goal-relevant contexts is associated with trait change. We discuss the results in light of Social Investment Theory and the developmental regulation literature.
AB - The association between personality traits and motivational units, such as life goals, has been a long-standing interest of personality scientists. However, little research has investigated the longitudinal associations between traits and life goals beyond young adulthood. In the present study (N = 251), we examined the rank-order stability of, and mean-level changes in, the Big Five and major life goals (Aesthetic, Economic, Family/Relationship, Hedonistic, Political, Religious, Social) from college (age 18) to midlife (age 40), as well as their co-development. Findings showed that personality traits and major life goals were both moderately-to-highly stable over 20 years. On average, there were mean-level increases in the Big Five and mean-level decreases in life goals over time. Patterns of co-development suggest people formulate goals consistent with their personality traits, and conversely, investing in goal-relevant contexts is associated with trait change. We discuss the results in light of Social Investment Theory and the developmental regulation literature.
KW - Big Five
KW - adulthood
KW - goals
KW - personality development
KW - self-regulation
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U2 - 10.1177/0146167220949362
DO - 10.1177/0146167220949362
M3 - Article
C2 - 32842904
AN - SCOPUS:85089897111
SN - 0146-1672
VL - 47
SP - 841
EP - 858
JO - Personality and social psychology bulletin
JF - Personality and social psychology bulletin
IS - 5
ER -