[OSF] The association between personality traits and motivational units, such as life goals, has been a long-standing interest of personality scientists. However, little research has investigated the longitudinal associations between traits and life goals beyond young adulthood.

In the present study (n = 251), we examined the rank-order stability of, and mean-level changes in, the Big Five and major life goals (Aesthetic, Economic, Family/Relationship, Hedonistic, Political, Religious, Social) from college (age 18) to midlife (age 40), as well as their co-development.

Findings: showed that personality traits and major life goals were both moderately-to-highly stable over 20 years. On average, there were mean-level increases in the Big 5 [Conscientiousness/Agreeableness increase, Extraversion/Neuroticism decrease] and mean-level decreases in life goals over time.

Patterns of co-development suggest people formulate goals consistent with their personality traits, and conversely, investing in goal-relevant contexts is associated with trait change. We discuss the results in light of Social Investment Theory and the developmental regulation literature.

[Keywords: adulthood, Big Five, developmental regulation, longitudinal, major life goals, motivation, personality development, social investment, traits]

…The present study examines the stability, change, and co-development of personality traits and major life goals across 20 years, from college to midlife, using data from the Berkeley Longitudinal Study (BLS)…A sample of 508 first-year college students (M_age = 18.6 years), who entered the University of California at Berkeley in 1992, received partial course credit for completing questionnaire packets during the first week (Week 1) and the end of the first semester of college (Semester 1). Participants were then contacted by mail at the end of the first (Year 1), second (Year 2), third (Year 3), and 4^th (Year 4) year of college, receiving monetary incentives ranging from US$7.5^$6₂₀₁₆ to US$25.01^$20₂₀₁₆ for their participation. The most recent follow-up (Year 24) was conducted ~20 years after the participants graduated from college (2013^–₃2016; M_age = 40.8).

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