Chapter 6

Chapter six in Brown (2016) discussed a variety of career development theories, one of them being the Contextualist Theory of Career. What I found to be most intriguing about this theory was how it was based on an individuals goals and their goal oriented behavior. It also takes into account an individual's view of the events of his or her life. "Individuals construct narratives, which are temporal interpretations of career events that use the present to anticipate the future"(Brown, 2016). Young, Valach, & Collin (2002) understood that in career development an individual is goal oriented. An individual views events in his or her life and interprets them in his or her own way. Based on his or her interpretation of these events he or she plans for future events that the individual anticipates may happen. This is different than previous theories that were discussed in this book. Earlier theories, such as Gottfredson's Theory of Circumscription and Compromise, did not take into account how goal oriented individuals are, nor did this theory look at the individual's reason for going to career counseling, and more importantly his or her interpretation of the reason why they are seeking out career counseling. By understanding the events that led the individual to career counseling, and by understanding the individual's point of view, you will better be able to assist the individual in achieving their career goals.

I also thought it was interesting how Brown (2016) discussed Savickas’s career construction theory (1995, 2001, 2013). Savickas’s (1995, 2001, 2013) theory relates to Young, Valach, & Collin’s (2002) theory based on the fact that they both take into account the individual’s construction of his or her self-image. Although they disagree with how an individual goes about creating this self-image, the basis is basically the same. Savickas incorporates a variety of other’s theories in his own theory. He helps to combine many of the theories that we have discussed and read about in Brown (2016). He praises Holland stating that exposing clients to his 6 personality types as well as work environments may be a way for an individual to reflect on the client’s self. He also incorporates Super’s idea of self-concept and planfulness (Brown, 2016). By including what he believed as the most important parts of a variety of theories, Savickas (1995, 2001, 2013) was able to construct a theory that best described how to help an individual that is “stuck” in their career development.

Brown, D.  (2016).  Career information, career counseling, and career development. (11th ed., pp. 102-122).  Boston, MA: Pearson.