Temperament and Vocational Preferences: Age, Gender, and Racial-Ethnic Comparisons Using the Student Styles Questionnaire

Abstract

Relationships between temperament and vocational interests are examined for a large, nationally stratified sample of children ages 8 through 17 years. Reliable relationships between temperament and vocational interests are observable in children as young as 8 to 10 years. Those with extroverted styles are interested in being a rock star. Those with introverted, intuitive, and feeling styles are interested in being a writer. Those with thinking styles are interested in being a mechanic. Those with feeling styles are interested in being a counselor. Those with flexible styles are interested in being a jet pilot. Age, gender, and racial-ethnic differences also are examined.