ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8152-3510
Date of Award
Spring 5-2019
Degree Name
Master of Arts (AM/MA)
Degree Type
Thesis
Abstract
Across the lifespan, personality changes in normative ways, but the source of such change remains ambiguous. Life events may be one impetus of such change, but strong selection effects into such events makes it unclear whether such change is driven by already existing differences (selection) between people or socialization following life events. In a preregistered study, we test socialization and selection effects of the Big 5 and life events using a large (N = 19,627) representative sample of Germans and 12 life events (e.g. marriage, retirement) from the GSOEP. Using propensity score matching and Bayesian multilevel growth curve models, we demonstrate variability in selection and socialization effects of different traits and life events. When controlling for selection bias, nearly all socialization effects following life events disappear. We conclude by discussing the implications of the absence of life event socialization and emphasize the importance of studying selection effects.
Language
English (en)
Chair and Committee
Joshua J Jackson
Committee Members
Thomas Oltmanns Patrick Hill
Recommended Citation
Beck, Emorie, "Selection or Socialization? A Propensity Score Matched Study of Personality and Life Events" (2019). Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1756.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/art_sci_etds/1756
Included in
Developmental Psychology Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Quantitative Psychology Commons
Comments
Permanent URL: https://doi.org/10.7936/b21t-0238