The Divergent Mental Health Effects of Dashed Expectations and Unfulfilled Aspirations: Evidence from American Lawyers’ Careers

Considerable work has shown that optimistic future orientations can be a resource for resilience across individuals’ lives. At the same time, research little downside to “shooting stars” and failing. Here, we bring these competing insights study of lawyers’ careers, investigating relationship between mental health failure in achieving desired career advancement. To do this, differentiate expectations aspirations future, conceptual distinction been much theorized but tested. Using longitudinal data, show dashed making partner are associated with depreciated outcomes, whereas similar does not exist unfulfilled aspirations. We conclude inasmuch as more deeply rooted an individual’s realistic sense their self, failing achieve what is expected psychologically damaging than simply aspired. Our findings contrast studies younger people demonstrate fewer consequences orientations, so highlight importance specifying how particular future-oriented beliefs fit into distinct life course trajectories, better or worse. In process, contribute academic literatures on work, health.