Correlational studies have shown that when people have aspirations for extrinsic life goals (relative to intrinsic ones), they tend to have:

• lower life satisfaction
• lower self-esteem
• lower self-actualization
• higher depression and anxiety
• poorer relationship quality
• less cooperative behavior
• greater prejudice and social-dominant attitudes
• academic maladjustment (Ryan, Sheldon, Kasser, & Deci, 1996)

(Duriez, Vansteenkiste, Soenens, & De Witte, 2004; Kasser & Ryan, 1993, 1996; McHoskey, 1999; Sheldon & McGregor, 2000; Sheldon, & Osbaldiston, 2000; Vansteenkiste, Duriez, Simons, & Soenens, in press)