Work Experiences and Personality Development in Young Adulthood

Brent W. Roberts, Avshalom Caspi, Terrie E. Moffitt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This longitudinal study provides an analysis of the relationship between personality traits and work experiences with a special focus on the relationship between changes in personality and work experiences in young adulthood. Longitudinal analyses uncovered 3 findings. First, measures of personality taken at age 18 predicted both objective and subjective work experiences at age 26. Second, work experiences were related to changes in personality traits from age 18 to 26. Third, the predictive and change relations between personality traits and work experiences were corresponsive: Traits that "selected" people into specific work experiences were the same traits that changed in response to those same work experiences. The relevance of the findings to theories of personality development is discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)582-593
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of personality and social psychology
Volume84
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science

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