Life goals and vocational choice

Abstract

Factor analyses of 56 life-goal and self-rating items were performed on separate samples of 250 male and 250 female college seniors of high ability. 7 identifiable factors were replicated in the 2 analyses: Self-Esteem and Scholarship (primarily associated with self-ratings); Personal Comfort, Prestige, and Altruism (primarily associated with life goals); and Artistic Motivation and Science-Technology (associated both with self-ratings and with life goals). Analyses of 4 life-goal factor scores using 5495 high aptitude students divided into 36 career field groups revealed great differences in the life goals of students pursuing different careers. Results with an open-ended question about life goals supported this finding. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)