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School or Work? The Choice May Change Your Personality
Jessika Golle1, Norman Rose1, Richard Göllner1
11 Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Tübingen.
Psychological Science
|November 9, 2018
Summary
Young adults choosing vocational pathways showed increased conscientiousness and decreased interest in investigative activities compared to academic peers. This highlights how educational choices shape personality development during emerging adulthood.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Personality Science
Background:
- The social-investment principle suggests new environments and roles influence behavior.
- Educational pathways represent significant environmental shifts for young adults.
- Understanding how these pathways affect personality is crucial for developmental research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential impact of academic versus vocational pathways on personality development in young adults.
- To examine Big Five personality traits and vocational interests in relation to educational choices.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design tracking participants over six years.
- Propensity-score matching used to establish comparable groups at pathway entry.
- Comparison of personality traits and vocational interests between academic and vocational groups post-entry.
Main Results:
- Vocational pathway selection was associated with higher conscientiousness.
- Individuals on the vocational track showed reduced interest in investigative, social, and enterprising activities.
- The academic pathway was implicitly linked to sustained or increased investigative interests.
Conclusions:
- Educational pathway choice significantly influences personality development in young adulthood.
- The vocational pathway appears to foster conscientiousness while potentially narrowing broader interests.
- Findings support the idea that specific environments shape personality trajectories.
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