Trait and Factor Theories

 Basic premise: we are attracted to a given career by our particular personality and numerous variables that constitute our background  Basic Principles –Know oneself: aptitudes, abilities, interests, limitations –Know the job market –Apply “true reasoning” when matching oneself to an occupation –The counselor provides information about client’s personality characteristics and what occupations would be a nice fit for the client based upon these characteristics

Trait and Factor Theories  Parsons (1909) –Study the individual –Survey the occupations –Match the individual to the occupation

Trait and Factor Theories  Williamson and Darley (1937) Presenting career concerns –No Choice –Uncertain choice –Unwise chose –Discrepancy  Williams and Darley (1937) –1. Analysis –2. Synthesis –3. Diagnosis –4. Prognosis –5. Counseling –6. Follow up

Holland’s Theory of Personality Formal Statements –Individuals can be classified by personality type –Environments can be classified by personality type –We search for environments that are a good fit –Behavior is an interaction of personality and environment  Limitations –The theory leaves no room for variables such as: gender, ethnicity, age etc. and the impact these variables play in the career matching process

Holland’s Theory of Personality  6 Modal Personality Types –Realistic –Investigative –Artistic –Social –Enterprising –Conventional

Holland’s Theory of Personality  Key Concepts –Congruence –Consistence –Differentiation –Identity –Calculus  Modal Occupational Environments –6 environmental types

Holland’s Theory of Personality  Inventories Based on Holland’s Model –Self Directed Search (SDS) –The Vocational Preference Inventory (7 th ed.) –My Vocational Situation (MVS) –Vocational Interest (VI) –Position Classification Inventory (PCI) –The Career Attitudes and Strategies Inventory –Strong Interest Inventory (SII) –Career Assessment Inventory (CAI)

Holland’s Theory of Personality  Validating the constructs: Spokane, 1996; Osipow and Fitzgerald, 1996; Holland, Fritzsche, and Powell, 1994  Hartung, Coh, and Gaylor (2001) –Birth order and Holland personality type  Smart, 1997; Smart & Feldman, 1998; Thompson & Smart, 1999 –Faculty personality types and student personality types  Fit between Holland code and work environment  Hot Debate: are personality and interests the same constructs?

Holland’s Theory of Personality  Spokane’s (1991) recommendations of gathering occupational information –Record both + and – reactions to occupations –Gather occupations that match interests –Focus on depth –Career counseling is a behavioral and cognitive process

 Trait and Factor Career Counseling Model (Dawis, 1996) –Conduct the intake interview –Identify developmental variables –Assessment –Identify and solve problems –Generate a PEF analysis –Confirm, explore, decide –Follow up