Do we prefer the things we work to create – those things with “some assembly required”? In general, we do. This is called the IKEA effect is the cognitive bias that causes people to place a disproportionately high value on objects they partially created, like folding origami or whatever they built with Legos.

The IKEA effect, first introduced in 2012 by Michael Norton, Daniel Mochon, and Dan Ariely, taps into the broader psychological phenomena that your personal effort enhances affection for the results of that effort. In general, we prefer the things we make ourselves.

Is this phenomenon universal? Like most things in psychology, the answer is “it depends”. The effect is likely stronger among those who have a stronger need for achievement and internal locus of control. (If you aren’t sure where you are on these continua, check out the assessment on myJournii.com, associated with the book #LiveforaLiving that I co-authored with Andy Palmer.) Everyone is different in traits and values – and the greater your self-awareness, the better your career choices will be.

In the case of the IKEA effect, if you have a higher internal locus of control, you believe that you can accomplish whatever goal you set out and that your actions can significantly influence outcomes. You might be more likely to see your effort as a direct reflection of your skills and effort. With a greater need for #achievement, you might actively seek out opportunities to create things and have tangible results to show for your effort. Whatever you create becomes an extension of you. What you create is valuable to you.

Self-awareness is critical for a more fulfilling #career journey. If you have a higher internal locus of control and higher need for achievement, you might prefer roles with more #personalaccountability, #creativity, and #autonomy.

Understanding yourself can help you make more informed career choices in your career journey. Check out myJournii.com for free self-assessments of your work values