Short CommunicationMotivation and young people's career planning: A perspective from the reinforcement sensitivity theory of personality

•RST of personality and career planning in young people•Career planning correlates with BAS Reward Interest and Goal-Drive Persistence.•Career planning negatively correlates with Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS).•Basic approach-avoidance personality factors are important in career planning.

We examined the associations between personality factors of the reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) of personality and career planning predispositions in young people (university students and recent graduates), comprising Career Adaptability, Career Optimism, and Perceived Knowledge. As predicted, all three career planning dispositions were positively correlated with Behavioural Approach System (BAS) scores, principally Reward Interest and Goal-Drive Persistence; and all dispositions negatively correlated with Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS) scores - these significant associations survived hierarchical multiple regression with age and gender statistically controlled. These findings indicate that motivational factors of the kind measured by RST-related approach-avoidance factors are associated meaningfully with career planning predispositions. Although a novel finding, further work is needed to determine whether these relationships exist when actual career-related decisions and behaviours are examined.