My Life Goals

Welcome to the life goals psychological survey! This survey is designed to study the goals and aspirations that people set.

Directions:

Everyone has long-term Goals or Aspirations. These are the things that individuals hope to accomplish over the course of their lives. In this section, you will find a number of life goals, presented one at a time. Please rate how important each goal is to you. Use the following rating scale:

1

2

3

4

5

6
7
8
9

Not at all

 

A little

 

Moderately

 
Very
 
Extremely

 

How important to you is each goal?

Not at all
 
A little
 

Moderately

 

Very

 

Extremely

Statement
1. To be a very wealthy person.
2. To grow and learn new things.
3. To have my name known by many people.
4. To have good friends that I can count on.
5. To successfully hide the signs of aging.
6. To work for the betterment of society.
7. To have many expensive possessions.
8. At the end of my life, to be able to look back on my life as meaningful and complete.
9. To be admired by many people.
10. To share my life with someone I love.
11. To have people comment often about how attractive I look.
12. To assist people who need it, asking nothing in return.
13. To be financially successful.
14. To choose what I do, instead of being pushed along by life.
15. To be famous.
16. To have committed, intimate relationships.
17. To keep up with fashions in hair and clothing.
18. To work to make the world a better place.
19. To be rich.
20. To know and accept who I really am.
21. To have my name appear frequently in the media.
22. To feel that there are people who really love me, and whom I love.
23. To achieve the "look" I've been after.
24. To help others improve their lives.
25. To have enough money to buy everything I want.
26. To gain increasing insight into why I do the things I do.
27. To be admired by lots of different people.
28. To have deep enduring relationships.
29. To have an image that others find appealing.
30. To help people in need.




 

Please rate how important each value is to you as a guiding principle in your life.

Opposed to my values
Not Important
 
 

Important

 

 

Very Important

Of Supreme Importance

Principle
1. Equality (equal opportunity for all)
2. Inner Harmony (at peace with myself)
3. Social Power (control over others, dominance)
4. Pleasure (gratification of desires)
5. Freedom (freedom of action and thought)
6. A Spiritual Life (emphasis on spiritual not material matters)
7. Sense of Belonging (feeling that others care about me)
8. Social Order (stability of society)
9. An Exciting Life (stimulating experiences)
10. Meaning in Life (a purpose to life)
11. Politeness (courtesy, good manners)
12. Wealth (material possessions, money)
13. National Security (protection of my nation from enemies)
14. Self-Respect (belief in one's own worth)
15. Reciprocation of Favors (avoidance of indebtedness)
16. Creativity (uniqueness, imagination)
17. A World at Peace (free of war and conflict)
18. Respect for Tradition (preservation of time-honored customs)
19. Mature Love (deep emotional and spiritual intimacy)
20. Self-Discipline (self-restraint, resistance to temptation)
21. Detachment (from worldly concerns)
22. Family Security (safety for loved ones)
23. Social Recognition (respect, approval by others)
24. Unity with Nature (fitting into nature)
25. A Varied Life (filled with challenge, novelty, and change)
26. Wisdom (a mature understanding of life)
27. Authority (the right to lead or command)
28. True Friendship (close, supportive friends)
29. A world of Beauty (beauty of nature and the arts)
30. Social Justice (correcting injustice, care for the weak)
31. Independent (self-reliant, self sufficient)
32. Moderate (avoiding extremes of feeling and action)
33. Loyal (faithful to my friends, group)
34. Ambitious (hardworking, aspiring)
35. Broad-minded (tolerant of different ideas and beliefs)
36. Humble (modest, self-effacing)
37. Daring (seeking adventure, risk)
38. Protecting the Environment (preserving nature)
39. Influential (having an impact on people and events)
40. Honoring of Parents and Elders (showing respect)
41. Choosing Own Goals (selecting own purpose)
42. Healthy (not being sick physically or mentally)
43. Capable (competent, effective, efficient)
44. Accepting My Portion in Life (submitting to life's circumstances)
45. Honest (genuine, sincere)
46. Preserving my Public Image (protecting my "face")
47. Obedient (dutiful, meeting obligations)
48. Intelligent (logical, thinking)
49. Helpful (working for the welfare of others)
50. Enjoying Life (enjoying food, sex, leisure, etc.)
51. Devout (holding to religious faith and belief)
52. Responsible (dependable, reliant)
53. Curious (interested in everything, exploring)
54. Forgiving (willing to pardon others)
55. Successful (achieving goals)
56. Clean (neat, tidy)




Now please answer the questions below.







1) How often do you follow what is going on in government and public affairs?
                     
Hardly at all
Only now and then
Some of the time
Most of the time
 
2) Would you say that you are politically conservative or politically liberal?
                     
Extremely Liberal
Liberal
Slightly Liberal
Moderate; Middle of the road
Slightly Conservative
Conservative
Extremely Conservative
 
3) Would you say that you are a Republican or a Democrat?
                     
Strong Democrat
Democrat
Lean toward Democrat
Independent/Neither Democrat nor Republican
Lean toward Republican
Republican
Strong Republican
 
4) Overall, how interested are you in politics?
                     
Not at all interested
Not so interested
Somewhat interested
Very interested
 
5) How many days in the past week did you talk about politics with family or friends?
                     
0 days
1 day
2 days
3 days
4 days
5 days
6 days
7 days
 
6) How much do you feel you know about politics?
                     
Nothing
A little
A moderate amount
A lot
 
7) There has been some discussion about abortion during recent years. Which one of the opinions below best agrees with your view?
                     
By law, abortion should never be permitted. The law should permit abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or when the woman's life is in danger. The law should permit abortion for reasons other than rape, incest, or danger to the woman's life, but only after the need for the abortion has been clearly established. By law, a woman should always be able to obtain an abortion as a matter of personal choice.
 
8) Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry, or do you think they should not be allowed to marry?
                     
Should be allowed Should NOT be allowed Should not be allowed to marry but should be allowed to legally form a civil union
 
9) Some people think the government should provide fewer services even in areas such as health and education in order to reduce spending. Other people feel it is important for the government to provide many more services even if it means an increase in spending. And, of course, some other people have opinions somewhere in between. Where would you place yourself on this scale?
                     
Far fewer services
Fewer services
Slightly fewer services
About the same level of services
Slightly more services
More services
Far more services
 
10) Some people feel there should be a government insurance plan which would cover all medical and hospital expenses for everyone. Others feel that all medical expenses should be paid by individuals through private insurance. And, of course, some other people have opinions somewhere in between. Where would you place yourself on this scale?
                     
Strongly favor government insurance
Favor government insurance
Slightly favor government insurance
In the middle on this issue
Slightly favor private insurance Favor private insurance Strongly favor private insurance
 
11) Some people believe that we should spend much less money for defense. Others feel that defense spending should be greatly increased. And, of course, some other people have opinions somewhere in between. Where would you place yourself on this scale?
                     
Greatly decrease defense spending
Decrease defense spending
Slightly decrease defense spending
Neither increase nor decrease defense spending
Slightly increase defense spending Increase defense spending Greatly increase defense spending
 
12) Some people believe the United States should solve international problems by using diplomacy and other forms of international pressure and use military force only if absolutely necessary. Others believe diplomacy and pressure often fail and the US must be ready to use military force. And of course others fall in positions in between. Where would you place yourself on this scale?
                     
Strongly favor diplomacy
Favor diplomacy
Slightly favor diplomacy
In the middle on this issue
Slightly favor readiness to use military force Favor readiness to use military force Strongly favor readiness to use military force
 
13) Do you think the federal government should make it more difficult for people to buy a gun than it is now, make it easier for people to buy a gun, or keep these rules about the same as they are now?
                     
Much more difficult Somewhat more difficult Keep these rules about the same Somewhat easier Much easier
 
14) Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder?
                     
Strongly favor Somewhat favor Neither favor nor oppose Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
 
15) Do you favor, oppose, or neither favor nor oppose the U.S. government torturing people, who are suspected of being terrorists, to try to get information to prevent future attacks?
                     
Strongly favor Somewhat favor Neither favor nor oppose Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
 
16) Do you believe that the government should make every effort to improve the social and economic position of blacks, or do you believe the government should not make any special effort to help blacks in particular?
                     
Strongly believe government should make special effort to help blacks Somewhat believe government should make special effort to help blacks In the middle on this issue Somewhat believe government should NOT make special effort to help blacks Strongly believe government should NOT make special effort to help blacks
 
17) Some people say that because of past discrimination, blacks should be given preference in hiring and promotion. Others say that such preference in hiring and promotion of blacks is wrong because it gives blacks advantages they haven't earned. Where would you place yourself on this scale?
                     
Strongly favor preferential hiring and promotion of blacks Somewhat favor preferential hiring and promotion of blacks In the middle on this issue Somewhat oppose preferential hiring and promotion of blacks Strongly oppose preferential hiring and promotion of blacks
 
18) Do you think the number of immigrants from foreign countries who are permitted to come to the United States to live should be increased, decreased or kept the same?
                     
Increased a lot Increased a little Kept the same Decreased a little Decreased a lot
 
19) Do you think the federal government should do more than it's doing now to try to deal with global warming, should do less than it's doing now, or is it doing about the right amount?
                     
Much more Somewhat more Doing about the right amount Somewhat less Much less
20) What is your view of the political movement known as the Tea Party? Would you say you strongly support it, moderately support it, neither support nor oppose it, moderately oppose it, strongly oppose it, or you don't know enough about the Tea Party to say?
                     
Strongly Support
Moderately Support
Neither Support nor Oppose
Moderately Oppose
Strongly Oppose
Don't Know Enough
 






About You



1. Are you female or male?
 
Female
Male
 
2. What is your age? years old
3. Which of these best describes your ethnicity?
 
4. Which of these best describes your employment/student status?
5. What is the highest educational degree that you have already attained?
 
6) How often do you attend religious services?
                     
Never
A few times a year
Once or twice a month
Almost every week
Once a week
More than once a week
 
7) How much guidance does religion provide in your day-to-day life?
                     
None
Some
Quite a bit
A great deal
 
8) How often do you pray, outside of religious services?
                     
Never
Once a week or less
A few times a week
Once a day
Several times a day
 
9. What is your relationship status?
 
Married
Not married, but in a committed relationship
Not married and not in a committed relationship
 
10. Do you live in the United States?
 
Yes, I live in the U.S.
No, I do not live in the U.S.
 
11. What is your household's annual income, before taxes are taken out?
12. Have you completed this survey before?
 
Yes, I have completed this survey before.
No, this is my first time completing this survey.

This questionnaire is part of an ongoing research project examining personality across the life course. If you would be interested in participating in future research along these lines, please enter your email address below. Also, if you take more than one of our personality tests, you can help us link your data across tests by entering your email address at the bottom of each test. Thank you!

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