Currently our little bearded friends like many things. They like animals, they like jewels, they even like tentacle demons. The one thing that they don't seem to like is work. I would suggest that dwarves should have preffered jobs. They can be listed in their profile screen:
Urist enjoys hunting and telling jokes.
Translation: Urist has preffered jobs in hunting and being a comedian.
The way these could work would be dependant on the skill obviously, but in general terms, I imagine that instead of just going on break, a dwarf who likes to smooth stone might go and smooth a couple places that you have designated. In like terms, if they like something like weaponsmithing, they might go to a forge and make a weapon. Until the economy starts up, these items would belong to the fortress but after the economy starts up, each dwarf would keep their items as personal possessions. They could then place them in a store to sell as a secondary source of income.
These hobby jobs could develop skills in the dwarves wether or not a skill is assigned them. They also could be the source of happy/bad thoughts if the resources are there for their hobbies: "He has complained about the lack of wood lately. He has complained about the lack of carpenter workshops lately. He enjoyed a good hunt lately."
When a dwarf is assigned to work on a job that matches his hobby, he would get happy thoughts. Eventually though, the hobby would turn into a job (ie when they gain that deignation) and they might look to get a new hobby. Hobbies could change as dwarves form friendships too, There could be a chance that one of the friend's hobbies is added to theirs or replaces theirs. It also would allow dwarves with the same hobbies to make friendships based on their similarities.
Since dwarves with a hobby would effectively have that job enabled occasionally you could use that as an alternative to the tantrum code in some cases so that a dwarf that likes mining might go on a digging spree for his tantrum. Granted this could cause problems but if doing one of his hobbies gave him happy thoughts, he might calm down more quickly.
They could also have disliked jobs that give them bad thoughts when they did them.
Ideas for writing up the likes and dislikes (In the form "Urist likes/hates to..."):
code:
Mining dig tunnels
Wood cutter cut wood or defile trees
Carpenter work with wood
Mason work with stone
Engraver make graffitti
Building designer create flying buttresses
Weaponsmith create destruction
Bowyer create tension or make crossbows
Armorsmith polish armor or protect the weak
Metalsmith make horseshoes
Furnace Operator work bellows
Wood Burner start fires
Metal Crafter work metal
Stone Crafter export his work or carve stone
Wood Crafter anger elves
Bone Carver carve bone
Gem Setter make things flashy
Gem Cutter cut gems
Mechanic make things work
Fisherdwarf fish or taunt carp
Miller grind things up
Thresher beat grain
Grower plow the soil
Herbalist look at plants
Brewer make bubbles
Cook cook or make good victuals
Weaver create intricate patterns
Clothier run fashion shows
Dyer change colors
Trapper capture animals
Ambusher hunt
Butcher hack up corpses or cut meat
Tanner tan hides
Leatherworker work leather
Fish Dissector dissect fish
Animal Dissector vivisect squirrels
Fish Cleaner behead carp
Cheese Maker eat mold
Milker get up early
Animal Trainer train dogs
Animal Caretaker care for birds
Soaper promote clenliness
Lye Maker make lye
Potash Maker bake ash
Glassmaker gather sand or blow glass
Wrestler grapple or wrestle or get physical
Axedwarf cleave flesh
Swordsdwarf cut off limbs
Macedwarf crush heads
Hammerdwarf beat things flat or play polo
Speardwarf skewer his enemies or go boar-hunting
Marksdwarf shoot things
Shield User (not sure what works here)
Armor User wear armor
Siege Engineer smash goblins (this could be better)
Siege Operator throw rocks
Pump Operator crank
Swimmer get wet
Persuader influence others
Negotiator work things out
Liar fib
Intimidator look strong
Judge of Intent understand motivations
Appraiser examine goods
Organizer organize
Record Keeper take notes
Conversationalist talk with others
Comedian tell jokes
Flatterer kiss up
Consoler give comfort
Pacifier calm others
Other potential Hobbies
code:
Music make music
Dance kick his heels up
fight punch things
arson start fires (probably limited to male children)
I'm sure there are many other good ways to write them up.