Value stability and change during self-chosen life transitions: Self-selection versus socialization effects.

TLDR

People often choose life transitions that align with their values, so values may already fit the new situation at onset, reducing the need for socialization. The study investigates whether personal values align with new life transitions at onset (self‑selection) or shift to fit them (socialization), and whether larger life changes increase socialization. Three longitudinal studies examined vocational training of police recruits, educational choices between psychology and business students, and migration from Poland to Britain to test these questions. Across all transitions, values already fit the new situation early on, but value socialization increased with greater life change, notably in the migration group.

Abstract

Three longitudinal studies examine a fundamental question regarding adjustment of personal values to self-chosen life transitions: Do values fit the new life setting already at its onset, implying value-based self-selection? Or do values change to better fit the appropriate and desirable values in the setting, implying value socialization? As people are likely to choose a life transition partly based on their values, their values may fit the new life situation already at its onset, leaving little need for value socialization. However, we propose that this may vary as a function of the extent of change the life transition entails, with greater change requiring more value socialization. To enable generalization, we used 3 longitudinal studies spanning 3 different life transitions and different extents of life changes: vocational training (of new police recruits), education (psychology vs. business students), and migration (from Poland to Britain). Although each life transition involved different key values and different populations, across all 3 studies we found value fit to the life situation already early in the transition. Value socialization became more evident the more aspects of life changed as part of the transition, that is, in the migration transition. The discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for research on values and personality change, as well as limitations and future directions for research.