neither individuals nor their environments are neutral with regard
to the other. They inevitably modify or redirect each other to some
extent. The developmental task, then, is to shift from one’s birth
niche, with its particular possibilities and expectations, toward a life
niche that resonates better with one’s inner self. The task is neither
clear nor straightforward, however. It may require extricating one-
self from old circumstances as well as entering or creating new ones.
Moreover, the destination—a genetically congenial niche—may
never be clear. As discussed next, the success of this gradual, incre-
mental, typically winding and unreflective journey—usually but not
inevitably toward a more congruent life niche—depends on both
internal (largely genetic) and external (largely nongenetic) factors.
These factors affect the number and type of opportunities we have,
recognize, and actually use from the full cafeteria that the culture
embodies (Lykken et al., 1993).
It is to these factors we now turn. Figure 4.7 helps to illustrate
these final three niche development principles.
3.Personal freedom as a major external factor governing the subset
of experiences actually available to us. Regardless of the size and con-
tent of a culture’s full menu of possible life roles, activities, and
social niches, not all individuals have equal access to them. Rather,
all cultures tend to steer different kinds of people down different
paths. Age is one such factor. As we move from infancy through
childhood and past adolescence, we have increasing freedom to
sample the panoply of experiences our culture offers, not just the
ones that our birth niche provides. Access to that panoply will dif-
fer, however, depending on one’s particular birth niche. Not all jobs
and lives are visible or available from our particular places of origin.
The freer we are, however, to explore the full range of possible ac-
tivities and roles, regardless of our birth status (religion, race, class,
gender, and so on), the broader the range of formative experiences
we will tend to have. The wider-ranging our experiences, in turn,
the better able we will be to consolidate and recognize our individ-
ual interests, values, attitudes, and capabilities (that is, ends-specific
GOTTFREDSON’S THEORY OF CIRCUMSCRIPTION, COMPROMISE, AND SELF-CREATION 125