Occupational self-direction, intellectual functioning, and self-directed orientation in older workers: Findings and implications for individuals and societies

Using data from 1994-95 third-wave interviews, this study tests whether Kohn and Schooler's findings (based on 1964 and 1974 interviews) that self-directed occupational conditions increase intellectual functioning and self-directed orientations hold when the respondents are 20 years older. Resu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of sociology 2004-07, Vol.110 (1), p.161-197
Main Authors: SCHOOLER, Carmi, MULATU, Mesfin Samuel, OATES, Gary
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aging
Cognitive Functioning
Cohort Analysis
Individuals
Intelligence
Job Characteristics
Occupations
Society
Sociology
Sociology of organizations and enterprises. Bureaucracy and administration
Sociology of work and sociology of organizations
Work Orientations
Working conditions
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Summary:Using data from 1994-95 third-wave interviews, this study tests whether Kohn and Schooler's findings (based on 1964 and 1974 interviews) that self-directed occupational conditions increase intellectual functioning and self-directed orientations hold when the respondents are 20 years older. Results confirm that even late in life self-directedness of work continues to affect intellectual functioning and self-directedness of orientation. These psychological characteristics, in turn, affect social-structural position in ways that increase disparities between the advantaged and disadvantaged. From a historical and societal perspective, the findings suggest that the occupational self-directedness of a society's workers may affect its social norms, values, and modes of production. Reprinted by permission of the University of Chicago Press. © All rights reserved
ISSN:0002-9602
1537-5390
DOI:10.1086/385430