Value Stability and Change During Self-Chosen Life Transitions: Self-Selection Versus Socialization Effects

Three longitudinal studies examine a fundamental question regarding adjustment of personal values to self-chosen life transitions: Do values fit the new life setting already at its onset, implying value-based self-selection? Or do values change to better fit the appropriate and desirable values in t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality and social psychology 2014-01, Vol.106 (1), p.131-147
Main Authors: Bardi, Anat, Buchanan, Kathryn E, Goodwin, Robin, Slabu, Letitia, Robinson, Mark
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adjustment
Adolescent
Adult
England
Female
Generalization
Human
Humans
Life Changes
Life Stage Transitions
Life transitions
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Migration
Personal Values
Personality
Personality Change
Poland
Self Concept
Selfselection
Social psychology
Social Values
Socialization
Students
U.S.A
United Kingdom
Values
Vocational Education
Vocational training
Young Adult
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Summary:Three longitudinal studies examine a fundamental question regarding adjustment of personal values to self-chosen life transitions: Do values fit the new life setting already at its onset, implying value-based self-selection? Or do values change to better fit the appropriate and desirable values in the setting, implying value socialization? As people are likely to choose a life transition partly based on their values, their values may fit the new life situation already at its onset, leaving little need for value socialization. However, we propose that this may vary as a function of the extent of change the life transition entails, with greater change requiring more value socialization. To enable generalization, we used 3 longitudinal studies spanning 3 different life transitions and different extents of life changes: vocational training (of new police recruits), education (psychology vs. business students), and migration (from Poland to Britain). Although each life transition involved different key values and different populations, across all 3 studies we found value fit to the life situation already early in the transition. Value socialization became more evident the more aspects of life changed as part of the transition, that is, in the migration transition. The discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for research on values and personality change, as well as limitations and future directions for research.
ISSN:0022-3514
1939-1315
DOI:10.1037/a0034818