Extrinsic relative to intrinsic goal pursuits and peer dynamics: Selection and influence processes among adolescents

Abstract

Self‐Determination Theory discerns goals and values in terms of whether they are intrinsic or extrinsic in nature. Although research substantiates the importance of goal preferences for a host of outcomes, few studies examined how such preferences develop, and studies that did pay attention to this focused on parental influence processes. The present study focuses on the role of peers. Social network analyses on longitudinal data gathered among senior high‐school students (N = 695) confirm that peer similarity in goal pursuit exists, and that, although this similarity partly originates from adolescents selecting friends on the basis of perceived goal pursuit similarity, it also results from peers actively influencing each other. Hence, friends tend to become more alike in terms of goal pursuit over time. Data also suggest that, although changes in goal pursuit at this age can be predicted from peer dynamics, they cannot be attributed to parental goal promotion efforts.

Teaching a Holistic, Harmonious and Internal Motivational Concept of Excellence to Promote Olympic Ideals, Health and Well-Being for All

“…Friendship is critical for the development of character: excellent friends cultivate the development of one's excellence, like vicious friends cultivate one's viciousness. Aristotle's ideas are in line with recent research confirming that friends tend to become more alike in terms of pursuing intrinsic or extrinsic goals over time (Duriez, Giletta, Kuppens & Vansteenkiste, 2013). This study showed that adolescents select friends according to perceived goal (intrinsic vs. extrinsic) pursuit similarity but their goals are also influenced by peers.…”

University socialization and the acceptance of anti‐egalitarian ideology: The underlying role of extrinsic life goals

“…Finally, our findings have important implications for the GCT (Kasser & Ryan, ). As we already noted, past research has shown that extrinsic and intrinsic orientations may be promoted by parents (Duriez, , ; Duriez, Soenens, et al, ) and peers (Duriez et al, ). With the present study we make one step forward suggesting that higher education could also be an important socialization agent shaping one's values and goals.…”

“…Although previous research within the framework of GCT has primarily examined the correlates of personal extrinsic versus intrinsic goal pursuits, it has recently been argued that extrinsic and intrinsic goals can also be promoted to a different extent by socializing agents (Vansteenkiste, Lens, & Deci, ). Consistent with this reasoning, Duriez and colleagues have shown that the type of goals shared by friends (Duriez, Giletta, Kuppens, & Vansteenkiste, ) or promoted by parents (Duriez, , ; Duriez, Soenens, & Vansteenkiste, ) also shape adolescents' goal and value preferences. For instance, when parents stressed extrinsic goals and values to a greater extent, adolescents are more likely to increase the valuation of such goals and values as well.…”

The Effects of Peers’ Career Goal Appraisals on School to Work Transition Outcomes

“…Kao et al (2021) argue that significant others who encourage and reassure job seekers to withstand difficulties prevent the depletion of such self-regulatory resources and support their perseverance through difficult times. In adolescence and young adulthood, these significant others are likely to be their peers whom they are known to draw on for guidance and support during this phase (Duriez et al, 2013). The self-regulatory resources that are necessary to expend during the transition to work may thus likewise be replenished through social contextual factors, such as peer relationships, which help people sustain their self-regulation during the transition process through encouragement, acceptance, confirmation, and modeling (Kao et al, 2021).…”