Posted on 6 August, 2011
Donald Super's Life-span, Life-space theory of career selection and career evolution proposes that each individual has a unique and distinctive combination of abilities, personality traits and values which make certain occupations more appealing to them as an outlet for their forces and that particular occupations demand, within certain tolerances, specific abilities and temperaments. Many potential pathsSuper notes that individual combinations of abilities are usually so multifarious that people are usually suited to a reasonably wide spectrum of occupations. Super feels that the suitability of a person for a career and also the satisfaction that an individual might feel in their career can be predicted by the parameters of their self-concept. Stages of developmentHe proposes that the growth of an individual in regards to work and career passes through a series of typical stages: Growth, Exploration, Establishment, Maintenance and Decline which constitute a "maxi cycle" of career progression. Interim re-evaluations and adjustments which he calls "mini-cycles", follow the same pattern in miniature. Personality and social possibilitiesSuper's theory integrates this vision of individual characteristics with the social roles that are available to, or experienced by the individual. These roles, in approximately developmental order are: child, student, "leisurite," citizen, worker, spouse, homemaker, parent and pensioner. The roles are enacted and shaped by the individual according to their expectations and the influence of others around them and then played out in the social theatres of home, community, school and workplace among others. Super sees career decision making in terms of a decision tree where choice points in career are influenced by the demands of competing or complementary life roles, for example, decisions about work which are related to parenthood. Self-in-situationSuper's vision of career development, self-concept, self-understanding and behavior are integrally entwined with the surrounding situation and self-concept is effectively self-in-situation. References:Super, D. E. (1980). A Life-span, Life-space Approach to Career Development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 16, 282-298. |
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