Personality traits and the prediction of personal goals

• A taxonomy for classifying the content of students’ personal goals is provided.
• Specific personal goals are associated with personality traits.
• Goals may be formulated to compensate for trait-related problems.
• Goals may be formulated to complement trait-related behaviors and outcomes.

Trait and motive concepts are widely used in the description and analysis of individual differences in personality, but relatively little work has examined how these personality units relate to one another. In the present research, we report relations between self-generated, idiographic goals and the Big Five personality trait dimensions. Undergraduate participants (N = 1443) each listed 10 personal goals and completed a measure of the Big Five. Results from multiple logistic regression demonstrated that traits were associated with 52 of 96 goal categories. Two prominent themes emerged: Goals that if attained would compensate for perceived deficits associated with personality traits (e.g., be less shy and low Extraversion) and goals that complement trait characteristics (e.g., travel to Europe and high Openness to Experience). Observed relations are discussed in terms of goals to alter one’s perceived personality traits or facilitate long-term and not easily attained outcomes.