Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Address for Correspondence: Stephen A. Woods, Ph. Woods aston. To test aspects of a theory of the role of personality and gender on the development of vocational interests, and their subsequent effects on adult occupational choices, this study examined associations between childhood personality traits, gender, and occupational environments over 40 years later.
Why, despite enormous social change over the past 50 years, do men and women continue to be interested in, and gravitate to, different kinds of occupational environments? In this paper we argue and demonstrate that the answer to this question, in part, relies on examining how gender and childhood personality traits interact to influence later life occupational choices. To test aspects of our theory, we examined the associations between childhood personality traits, gender, and the characteristics of adult occupational environments more than 40 years later.
The study was conducted with participants in the Hawaii Personality and Health Cohort. From to the present, participants now middle-aged have been located and recruited for follow-up studies Goldberg, ; Hampson et al.
These data offered a unique insight into early predictors of adult occupational choices. Vocational choices arise from perceptions of fit between work environment and interests. Realistic R individuals prefer tangible or physical activities involving machines, tools, or animals; they tend to be practical, conforming, and uninsightful.
Typical R jobs include building construction and auto mechanics. Investigative I individuals prefer activities that involve thinking, analysis, and organizing; they are intellectual, curious, and rational. They work in fields such as medicine and science. Artistic A people prefer creative or self-expressive work, and are original, nonconforming, and impulsive.
