Blog 2

After reading through Brown's chapter 3, the topic I enjoyed reading about the most was Holland's Theory of Vocational Choice starting on page 47. I did not have much knowledge on this theory and I think Brown did a great job explaining it. Brown (2016) discussed the pure personality types into more detail which I found to be interesting to read about because it gave me a different perspective of these personality types other than my own. For example, artistic individuals Brown listed some qualities that they would have which differed from things that I pictured an artistic individual to have. Two characteristics that I would not have thought of as someone with an artistic personality were unsociable and impulsive because of my experiences in the past, so it was nice to read it from a different perspective. This was not the only personality type that I thought something different about, which is why I really enjoyed that Brown discussed the 'pure' personality types in more detail along with the personality environments. It would be interesting to me to see which personality type I fit under. After reading them, I'm not set on a specific one that I would choose for myself. There are three that I would guess I might fit under so it would be interesting to see the out of those three which one is first, second and third. I strongly agree when Brown (2016) says it is expected that people with consistent personality profiles will have an easier time making a career choice than those with inconsistent profiles (pg. 50). It was interesting to see how figure 3.1 demonstrated this, which made it easier for me to understand. 

I found the article The use of Genograms in Career Counseling with Elementary, Middle, and High School Students to be very intriguing. I never had to use a genogram so it was interesting to read about how they work and how you can build off of them from elementary school up to high school. They can be modified which is why it is great to start using them in elementary school and progress off of them. I believe elementary school students should have more career counseling and this is a great starter for them. It gives them not only a chance to communicate with their family members and find out more about what they do, but I feel that they will have a better understand of how to use it and what it does when they get to the older grades. Gibson (2005)  states that because parental expectations and role models influence career aspirations and educational decisions, examining family dynamics, roles, and values with students in school settings can be beneficial in helping students master the competencies in the comprehensive developmental guidance programs in order to reach their goals (pg. 353). This line gets the message across as to why it is so important to start using tools such as the genogram in schools with our kids in todays society. 

Brown, D. (2016). Career Information, Career Counseling, and Career Devlopment (11th ed.). New York: Pearson.

Gibson, D. M. (2005, June). The Use of Genograms in Career Counseling with Elementary, Middle, and High School Students. The Career Development Quarterly, 53, 353-361.