Managerial Mobility Motivations and Central Life Interests

Career anchorage points and central life interests have been measured separately in a number of studies. Using 489 middle managers and specialists in seven American industries, I have related the two measures to each other. The data indicate that regardless of age, education, level of labor force entry and present position, upwardly anchored managers and specialists are more work-oriented than are ambivalently or downwardly anchored managers and specialists. The evidence supports the conclusion that the commitment to work as central life interest depends, at least in part, on the individual manager's and specialist's career orientation anchorage.