The Role of Internal and External Religious Orientations on the Goals and Aspirations of Students' Lives (Case study of Students in Allameh Tabatabai University)

The present study aims at investigating the role of internal and external religious orientations on the goals and aspirations of  lives in university students. The method of research was descriptive of correlation type and the statistical sample consisted of 250 college students that were selected with available sampling among all students in Allameh Tabatabaei University. Data collection tools included Allport's & Fegean Religious Orientation Scale (1963) and Grouzet & et al Aspiration Index (2005). The results showed that there was a positive significant relationship between internal religious orientation and intrinsic aspirations and self-transcendence; but no significant relationship between internal religious orientation and extrinsic aspirations. There was a positive and significant relationship between external religious orientation and extrinsic aspirations; but there was no significant relationship between external religious orientation and intrinsic aspirations and self-transcendence. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that the internal religious orientation was able to predict the score of intrinsic aspirations; the external and internal religious orientations were able to predict self-transcendence aspirations, and the external religious orientation was able to predict extrinsic aspirations.