TY - JOUR
T1 - Life structure decisions
T2 - Factors related to career-marriage priorities in college youth
AU - Johnson, Susan J.
AU - Jaccard, James
N1 - Funding Information:
Several developmental psychc, logists concerned with adulthood have emphasized the sequence or pattern of events during the adult years. Buhler (1968) has studied patterns of change in values and life goals. Erikson (1950) has developed a sequence of psychosocial turning points, three of which are concerned with adult development. Riegel (1975) has described a set of developmental "crises" or transitions affecting adults. Levinson (1978), in particular, has made the underlying pattern or design of a person's life central to a theory of adult development in men through the concept of life structure. By defining stages of adult development, these theorists focus on universal changes in life patterns *This research was conducted while the first author was a National Research Service Award (NIMH) trainee, Grant No. 1 T32 MH14593. The authors would like to thank WilliamE . Martin for his help and comments throughout this research effort. A modified version of this paper was presented at the 87th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, New York, September, 1979. Requests for reprints should be sent to Susan J. Johnson or James Jaccard, Department of Psychological Soiences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907.
PY - 1981
Y1 - 1981
N2 - The present research conceptualizes life structure, or the pattern of life, as the ordering of priorities among competing alternatives. Intentions to emphasize career, marriage, or both were investigated for college students. Variations in these intentions were seen as resulting from differences in two classes of variables: (a) the perceived consequences of emphasizing the alternative; and (b) perceived normative pressures. A subjective probability model of the relationship between beliefs and behavioral intentions was used as a framework for determining the importance of these factors. The considerations identified as most likely to have a direct impact on life structure dealt primarily with interpersonal relations, particularly marriage and family. In general, the data suggested that the subjective probability model may be useful for further understanding of life structure decisions.
AB - The present research conceptualizes life structure, or the pattern of life, as the ordering of priorities among competing alternatives. Intentions to emphasize career, marriage, or both were investigated for college students. Variations in these intentions were seen as resulting from differences in two classes of variables: (a) the perceived consequences of emphasizing the alternative; and (b) perceived normative pressures. A subjective probability model of the relationship between beliefs and behavioral intentions was used as a framework for determining the importance of these factors. The considerations identified as most likely to have a direct impact on life structure dealt primarily with interpersonal relations, particularly marriage and family. In general, the data suggested that the subjective probability model may be useful for further understanding of life structure decisions.
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U2 - 10.1016/0193-3973(81)90011-3
DO - 10.1016/0193-3973(81)90011-3
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:49049146307
SN - 0193-3973
VL - 1
SP - 277
EP - 295
JO - Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology
JF - Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology
IS - 4
ER -