Life Goals 
**********
 
**Summary**

Respondents’ life goals have been measured in the SOEP in 1990, 1992, 1995, since 2004 at four-year 
intervals and since 2016 at five-year intervals. They have been used with ten items that can be grouped 
into three scales (success, family life, and altruism). 

**Theoretical Background**

Life goals can be thought of as “relatively long- term, value-laden life objectives” (Meier et al., 1959). 
They have been conceptualized as “organizers” of developmental self-regulation that individuals use 
to influence their own development as they adapt to the constraints of a given situation (Heckhausen, 
1999). Individual life goals correspond to societal values to the extent that they are aligned with 
cultural preferences, if not culturally prescribed norms. A classic example is the goal of material 
success as embodied in the achievement of money, power, and security, which in turn lead to prestige 
and social recognition. However, overarching non-monetary goals such as “the good life” or “personal 
development” are also taking on an increasingly important role in individuals’ lives (Meier et al., 
1959). 
Research on life goals has investigated their impact on individuals’ future orientations and their 
occupational, educational, and family-related decision making (Chang et al., 2006). Life goals also 
play a prominent role in motivational theories of life-span development, which focus on goal 
commitment, planning, and eventual goal attainment (Heckhausen et al., 2010). Another strand of 
research is concerned with the prioritization of life goals and perceived control over goal attainment 
(Heckhausen, 1999). Recent evidence that life goals play a role in life satisfaction has contributed to 
the research on subjective well-being and life satisfaction (Heady 2008). 

**Scale Development**

The items are based (albeit with some changes of wording) on a classification of goals and measures 
initially developed by Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck (1961) and translated into German by Bielenski and 
Strümpel (1988). More information on the development of the scale is given by Headey (2008). 

**References**

*Bielenski, H. & Strümpel, B. (1988). Eingeschränkte Erwerbsarbeit bei Frauen und Männern. Fakten 
- Wünsche - Realisierungschancen. Berlin: Edition Sigma.*

*Chang, E. S., Chen, C, Greenberger, E., Dooley, D., & Heckhausen, J. (2006). What do they want in 
life?: The life goals of a multi-ethnic, multi-generational sample of high school seniors. Journal 
of Youth and Adolescence, 35, 302-313.*

*Headey, B. W. (2008). Life goals matter to happiness: A revision of set-point theory. Social Indicators 
Research, 86, 213-231.*

*Heckhausen, J. (1999). Developmental regulation in adulthood: Age-normative and sociostructional 
constraints as adaptive challenges. New York: Cambridge University Press.*

*Heckhausen, J., Wrosch, C., & Schulz, R. (2010). A motivational theory of life-span development. 
Psychological Review, 117, 32-60.*

*Kluckhohn, F. R., & Strodtbeck, F. L. (1961). Variations in value orientations. Evanston, Illinois: 
Row, Peterson.*

*Meier, D. L., & Bell, W. (1959). Anomia and differential access to the achievement of life goals. 
American Sociological Review, 24, 189-202.*

**Items**

Are the following things currently ... for you (Sind für Sie persönlich die folgenden Dinge heute ...):

Success

	1. Being able to afford to buy things for myself (Sich etwas leisten können).
	2. Being fullfilled (Sich selbst verwirklichen).
	3. Being successful in my career (Erfolg im Beruf haben).
	4. Seeing the world and/or traveling extensively (Die Welt sehen, viele Reisen machen).
	
Scale: 1 (Very important / Sehr wichtig) to 4 (Not at all important / Ganz unwichtig)

**Items and Scale Statistics**

.. csv-table::
   :file: csv/09a_success.csv
   :header-rows: 1
   :class: longtable
   :widths: 2 2 2 1 1 2 1


**Items**

Are the following things currently ... for you (Sind für Sie persönlich die folgenden Dinge heute ...):
 
Family Life

	1. Owning a house (Ein eigenes Haus haben).
	2. Having a happy marriage/relationship (Eine glückliche Ehe / Partnerschaft haben).
	3. Having children (Kinder haben).
	
Scale: 1 (Very important / Sehr wichtig) to 4 (Not at all important / Ganz unwichtig) 

**Items and Scale Statistics**

.. csv-table::
   :file: csv/09b_familylife.csv
   :header-rows: 1
   :class: longtable
   :widths: 2 2 2 1 1 2 1


**Items**

Are the following things currently ... for you (Sind für Sie persönlich die folgenden Dinge heute ...): 

Altruism 

	1. Being there for others (Für andere da sein). 
	2. Spending a lot of time with friends (Viel mit Freunden zusammen sein). 
	3. Being politically and/or socially involved (Sich politisch, gesellschaftlich einsetzen). 

Scale: 1 (Very important / Sehr wichtig) to 4 (Not at all important / Ganz unwichtig) 

**Items and Scale Statistics**

.. csv-table::
   :file: csv/09c_altruism.csv
   :header-rows: 1
   :class: longtable
   :widths: 2 2 2 1 1 2 1