Welcome
Advanced Organizer
• Read the chapter first
• Have access to the supplemental materials in Blackboard
Theory Basics
• Explains/predicts behavior
• Plan interventions
• Evaluating theory
• Parsimony, clear hypotheses, generates research
• See handout “Evaluating Theories” in Blackboard
Trait/Factor Theories
Parsons/Williamson
Holland’s RIASEC Theory
Person-Environment Correspondence Theory
Brown’s Values Theory
Cognitive Information Processing Theory
Parsons’ Theory: Three
components to career choice
Knowledge
About
Self
Knowledge
About
Options
True Reasoning
Williamson:
Types of Career Problems
1. Uncertainty
2. No choice
3. Discrepancy between interests and abilities
4. Unwise
Williamson’s 6 Stages
1. Analysis (data)
2. Synthesis (strengths/weaknesses)
3. Diagnosis (problem/cause)
4. Prognosis (chance of success?)
5. Counseling
6. Follow-Up
Which Type? How Would you
Counsel?
Andy is very interested in being an accountant.
However, he keeps failing the CPA exam, even
after hiring multiple tutors.
Carol has changed her major 6 times, doesn’t want
to make a “bad” choice again so is delaying until
summer to choose.
Ben is having difficulty narrowing down his career
options.
Ellen wants to be a doctor because “they make a lot
of $, everyone respects you, and it will make my
parents so proud.”
Options:
Uncertain
Discrepancy
No choice
Unwise
Which Type? How Would you
Counsel?
Andy is very interested in being an accountant.
However, he keeps failing the CPA exam, even
after hiring multiple tutors.
Carol has changed her major 6 times, doesn’t want
to make a “bad” choice again so is delaying until
summer to choose.
Ben is having difficulty narrowing down his career
options.
Ellen wants to be a doctor because “they make a lot
of $, everyone respects you, and it will make my
parents so proud.”
Discrepancy
No choice
Uncertain
Unwise
Holland’s RIASEC theory
RIASEC THEORY
Realistic
Investigative
Basic Assumptions:
1. 6 types of personalities
2. 6 types of “environments”
3. We seek for environments that will
Conventional
allow us to express our main
personality.
4. Behavior is predictable.
• Consistency, congruency
Enterprising
Social
Artistic
Person-Environment
Correspondence (PEC)
Theory
• Dawis and Lofquist
• P-E interaction
• Basic idea: I must meet work demands, work must meet
my demands
Consider...
A job I loved
A job I hated
What aspects did you
love?
What aspects did you hate
or not care for?
Employer reinforcers?
Employer reinforcers?
13
1
PEC MODEL
Individual
Needs
Abilities
Potential Occupational Reinforcers
(working conditions)
Dissatisfaction Satisfaction
???
Job Requirements
Satisfactoriness
?????
Not
Satisfactory
???
PEC MODEL
Individual
Needs
Abilities
Potential Occupational Reinforcers
(working conditions)
Dissatisfaction Satisfaction
QUIT
Job Requirements
Satisfactoriness
TENURED
Not
Satisfactory
FIRED
Brown’s Value Based Theory
• Most important element in career
choice?
• Crystallization
• Can you label it?
• Apply it to behavior?
• Culture based
• Individual values and employer
values may differ
Cognitive Information Processing
Pyramid of Information Processing Domains
(Understanding What’s Involved in A Career Choice)
Metacognitions
Executive
Processing
Domain
CASVE Cycle
Self
Knowledge
Occupational
Knowledge
Decision-Making
Skills Domain
Knowledge
Domains
CASVE Cycle
Communication
Identifying the
problem - the gap
Execution
Analysis
Taking action to
narrow the gap
Thinking about
alternatives
Valuing
Synthesis
Prioritizing
alternatives
Generating likely
alternatives
Readiness Model
Complexity (high)
_____ readiness
__________ readiness
(high)
Capability (low)
_______ readiness
(low)
________readiness
Readiness Model
Complexity (high)
Low readiness
Moderate readiness
(high)
Capability (low)
Moderate readiness
(low)
High readiness
Summary
• T/F theories are helpful for making a current career
decision
• Most are well-researched and continue to generate
research
• Very useful for career planning, goal setting, next steps