Motives of Negro Americans Who Aspire to Traditionally Open and Closed Occupations

Abstract

The aspirations of Negro American college students to occupations which traditionally have been open or closed to them were examined as functions of (a) the predominantly middle or working class status of the college attended and (b) individual differences in achievement, affiliation, and power motivation. Among Negro students in a middle class Negro college aspiration to traditionally open occupations was associated with weak affiliation motivation and aspiration to traditionally closed occupations with strong affiliation motivation. Among students attending a predominantly working class Negro college strong achievement motivation and strong power motivation were related to aspiration to traditionally closed occupations. It was inferred that the personality basis for occupational integration may differ as a function of the social class milieu in which the Negro student is functioning at the time he makes occupational decisions. Replication on minorities in other nations is suggested.