Personal control over development, identity formation, and future orientation as components of life orientation: A developmental approach.

Two components of life orientation emerged in a study of 145 men and 142 women at age 26: (a) Positive Orientation (PO), which included self-percepts of personal control over development, positive evaluation of the future, and identity achievement; and (b) Motivated Questioning (MQ), which consisted of identity exploration, motivated future orientation, and dissatisfaction with present achievements. Methods used were an identity status interview, a Personal Control Inventory, and a semistructured interview. In comparison with MQ, PO was more strongly associated with variables involved in adaptive psychological functioning: personal well-being, broad range of goals, social acceptance, and socially constructive ends (A. S. Waterman, 1992). Schjool success studied at ages 8 and 14 and socioeconomic status contrbuted to both PO and MQ more strongly in women than in men. Life orientation in men was more dependent on current variables involved in adaptative psychological functioning