Chapter 4 Theories of super and Gottfredson

The Development Theories of Donald Super and Linda Gottfredson

In this chapter the theories mentioned are based on the biological, psychological, sociological, and the cultural factors that play a role in career choices, the adjustments to and changes in careers, and the withdraw of careers (Brown, 2007, pg 70).

Brown starts off talking about Donald Super and mentions that his writing on career development is very influential and extensive. Super’s Lifespan theory includes 14 propositions. I will talk about the first 2 and how they affect career choices.

1)      People differ in their abilities and personalities, needs, values, interest, traits, and self-concepts. Even though most of us are alike in many ways, the uniqueness of each person is noticeable in the individual their combination of strengths and weaknesses (Brown, 2007, pg 71).

2)      People are qualified, by virtue of these characteristics, for a number of occupations. People have multiple abilities, characteristics, and other traits that requisites them for success in many occupations. Very little jobs require special abilities skills, or traits which makes it much easier for people to succeed (Brown, 2007, pg 71).

These two propositions are based on a person’s internal makeup and emphasizes how characteristics, abilities, and personalities can make us alike and different. Our uniqueness is what others see and our own strengths and weaknesses help us either succeed or fail in a career. As adults we are what we do; and as individuals we are a reflection of our job or role (Brown, 2007, pg 76).

Brown also talks about Gottfredson’s theory of circumscription and compromise. This theory is focused on how career aspirations are developed. There are 4 basic assumptions starting with how career development begins in childhood. The next assumption is that career aspirations are attempts to implement one’s self concept. The third assumption is that career satisfaction depends on the degree to which the career is congruent with self-perceptions. The last assumption is that people develop occupational stereotypes that guide them in the selection process (Brown, 2007, pg 80).

She also believes that self-concepts are made up of a social self and a psychological self, which determines occupational aspirations. There is a major thrust to choose a career and to establish a social identity based on a career choice. Gottfredson said that people develop cognitive maps of occupations organized in three dimensions. The first is the masculinity/femininity of the occupation, second is the prestige of the occupation, and the third is the field of work (Brown, 2007, pg 80).

Both of the theories I talked about are similar in ways regarding the choice of occupation determined by abilities, interests, values, and the whole makeup of a person.

Reference

Brown, D. (2007). Career information, career counseling, and career development.