Navigating Social Roles in Pursuit of Important Goals: A Communal Goal Congruity Account of STEM Pursuits

• DOI: 10.1111/spc3.12042
• Publication Date: 2013-07-08T08:56:28Z
• Authors: Amanda B. Diekman; Mia Steinberg
• Keywords: Goal pursuit

Abstract Our exploration of communal goal processes in decisions about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers integrates research on pursuit with stereotyping social role occupancy. Social roles encompass expectations resources that can originate from group membership broad categories, such as gender, ethnicity, or nationality, more narrowly focused occupational family roles. review elaborates three ways which intersect processes, particular attention to how goals influence STEM pursuits. First, selection what are prioritized generally at a time. Second, beliefs the kinds people shy away seek out. Third, occupying actually facilitate impede progress. With regard pursuits, we demonstrate valued both by especially women, consensual stereotypes describe fields less likely afford than other However, emphasizing aspects elicits greater positivity toward these Finally, explore might be enacted communally‐oriented ways. The congruity perspective thus offer unifying framework integrate an understanding structure – is, contexts cognition individual critical motivational cognitive processes.