Life Design: a Paradigm for Career Construction in the 21 st century Mark Savickas (Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine) Laura Nota (University of Padua) Jerome Rossier (University of Lausanne) Jean-Pierre Dauwalder (University of Lausanne) Maria Eduarda Duarte (University of Lisbon) Jean Guichard (CNAM/INETOP, Paris) Salvatore Soresi (University of Padua) Raoul van Esbroeck (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) Annalies van Vianen (University of Amsterdam)

Shift in Paradigm (permanent co-evolution of individuals, the economy, and the society) The Five shifts to develop a new paradigm: 1.From traits and states to context 2.From prescription to process 3.From linear causality to non-linear dynamics 4.From scientific facts to narrative realities 5.From describing to modeling

1. From traits and states to context Inheritance: Universal laws governing human behavior The paradox: utilization of tools and methods that eliminate all contextual information Thus, the first presupposition: Counseling occurs far from controlled conditions

2. From prescription to process Inheritance: people hired on a long-term basis of mutual loyalty and security The paradox: prescribe careers considering a single occupational choice Thus, the second presupposition: Focus on strategies for survival and dynamics of coping (how to do)

3. From causality to non-linear dynamics Inheritance: Reasoning is linear and deductive The paradox: the believe in simple and linear causal explanations Thus, the third presupposition: Iterative strategies for problem solving; utilization of many different tools and methods

4. From scientific facts to narrative realities Inheritance: traditional pathways (education, work, family) The paradox: use of abstract and invariant rules and norms Thus, the fourth presupposition: Focus on client’s ongoing (re)construction of subjective and multiple realities

5. From describing to modeling Inheritance: The use and abuse of experimental design The paradox: dependence upon descriptive statistics Thus the fifth presupposition: Focus on modeling fractal patterns

A framework for life- designing based on epistemology of social constructionism Life-long Holistic Contextual Preventive

Life-long Help people to determine for themselves:  HOW (the needed method)  WHO (the person that can give the support)  WHERE (the environment in which it should take place)  WHEN (the best moment for the intervention)

Holistic  Consider simultaneously all salient life-roles as they engage in career construction (for some people work may not be the salient role)

Contextual  Explore the life theaters in which the different roles may be performed Life design intervention should be inclusive

Preventive  Taking an interest in people’s future much earlier then when they have to face the difficulties of transitions

Goals of Life-Designing Intervention  Adaptability  Narratability  Activity

ADAPTABILITY The five “Cs” of Career construction theory: Concern Control Curiosity Confidence Commitment

NARRATABILITY  A dialogue to construct and narrate a story that portrays their career and life with coherence and continuity (construction of subjective identity forms)

ACTIVITY  Through activities, people build new dimensions of themselves (e.g.: self-efficacy beliefs)  ACTION = Behavior + Meaning

Intervention Model  Define the problem  Exploration of the current system of subjective identity forms  Open perspectives  Place the problem in the new story  Specify activities  Follow-up

CONCLUDING… Contextualized models Counseling as a process of continuous interactions New interventions methods and techniques Highlights: Idiographic definitions of success individual and the environment components of knowledge acquisition At the end: Counseling is a procedure to create a sense of shared citizenship!

THANK YOU ! Have a nice day