Achievement Goals of Youngsters in Rio de Janeiro in Different Contexts

Abstract

The priority focus areas are: (a) the combination of specific neural and cognitive processes (D'Argembeau et al., 2010; Ersner-Hershfield, Garton, Ballard, Samanez-Larkin, & Knutson, 2009;Ersner-Hershfield, Wimmer, & Knutson, 2009;Natanzon & Ferguson, 2012;Schacter & Addis, 2009); (b) intrinsic motivational aspects (Carvalho, Pocinho, & Silva, 2010;Jang & Liu, 2012;Lee, McInerney, Liem, & Ortiga, 2010;Peetsma & van der Veen, 2011); (c) variables of the youngsters' proximal relations, with the family, school, teachers and the circle of friends (Black & Deci, 2000;Deci, Koestner, & Ryan, 2001;Deci, Vallerand, Pelletier, & Ryan, 1991;Filak & Sheldon, 2003;Garn, Matthews, & Jolly, 2010;Hill, Jenkins, & Farmer, 2008;Ryan & Deci, 2000;Ryan & Niemiec, 2009;Ryan, Stiller, & Lynch, 1994; In this paper, we depart from an evolutionary perspective of Psychology, through the life story strategies theory (Del Giudice & Belsky, 2011), to investigate the accomplishment goals of youngsters in different contexts in the State of Rio de Janeiro: slum dwellers (Rocinha and Vigário Geral) and college students who do not live in slums.Various studies have been developed about the theme of youngsters' accomplishment goals and their future projects. Abstract: In this study, we compared the Future Goals of 160 youngsters (16-30 years-old; 71 female and 89 male). University students and slum-dwelling youth were compared. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, information about their families and two open questions: "What do you expect to do in your life that you consider very important?" and "Do you believe you'll achieve that? Why?" Predicted differences in the participants' answers between the two groups were observed. Favela youth showed higher levels of uncertainty while describing their goals and also presented lower scores of objectives. From an Evolutionary perspective of Psychology, through the Life Story Strategies Theory, we concluded that, for young people from different social contexts, the ways of planning the future tend to vary depending on the adaptability of achievement due to the present constraints in the youth's realities.Keywords: young adults, achievement, future discounting, evolutionary psychology Metas de Realização de Jovens do Rio de Janeiro em Contextos DistintosResumo: Este estudo teve por objetivo comparar as metas de realização de jovens de dois contextos distintos: universitários e moradores de favela. Participaram 160 jovens do Rio de Janeiro: estudantes universitários (n = 80) e jovens moradores de duas favelas cariocas (Rocinha, n = 40 e Vigário Geral, n = 40), de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 16 e 30 anos. Os participantes responderam ao questionário sociodemográfico, questões referentes à família e duas perguntas abertas: "O que você pretende realizar em sua vida que considera muito importante?" e "Você acredita que conseguirá realizar isso? Por quê?". Por meio da análise de conteúdo temático-categorial observou-se uma diferença significativa entre os grupos no número de metas re...