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Related Experiment Videos

Goal instability and later life adjustment.

S B Robbins1, E C Payne, J M Chartrand

  • 1Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23284-2018.

Psychology and Aging
|September 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Goal instability, measured by the Goal Instability Scale (GIS), is a valid construct for older adults. Findings confirm GIS measures a single trait and is consistent across age groups in early retirees.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Gerontology
  • Personality Psychology

Background:

  • Goal instability, rooted in Heinz Kohut's psychology of the self, is explored.
  • Understanding personality constructs in older adults is crucial for psychological well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish the construct validity of goal instability in older adults.
  • To examine the Goal Instability Scale (GIS) as a measure for this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • Confirmatory factor analyses were used to assess the GIS.
  • The study included 157 early retirees from a manufacturing industry.

Main Results:

  • The 10-item GIS was confirmed as measuring a unitary construct.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Goal instability scores were found to be similar across different age groups.

    • Conclusions:

    • The findings enhance the conceptual clarity and relevance of goal instability in older adults.
    • Goal instability may reflect a negative aspect of the pursuit of self-continuity.