Career development and systems theory: A new relationship.

Abstract

PART I. REVIEW OF EXISTING THEORIES. 1. RATIONALE FOR A SYSTEMS THEORY PERSPECTIVE. Definitions. Present status of career development theory. The structure of career development theory. Relationship with other fields. Development of the systems theory approach. Conclusion. 2. THEORIES FOCUSING ON CONTENT. The work of Frank Parsons. Differential psychology. Person-environment fit. Similarities and differences between theories of content. Conclusion. 3. THEORIES FOCUSING ON PROCESS. The work of Ginzberg. Super's life-span, life-space approach. Individualistic approach. Gottfedson's theory of circumscription and compromise. Similarities and differences between theories. 4. THEORIES FOCUSING ON CONTENT AND PROCESS. Krumboltz's learning theory of career decision making, Social cognitive career theory. Cognitive information-processing model. Developmental-contextual approach. Roe's theory of personality development and career choice. A contextualist action theory explanation of career. Similarities and differences between theories. Conclusion. 5. COMPARISON OF THE MAJOR THEORIES. The individual. The context of career development. Development. Philosophical underpinning. Relationship between variables. Decision making. Interaction process. Chance. Conclusion. 6. THEORIES OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT: WIDER EXPLANATIONS. Women's career development. Theoretical developments. Summary. Theories related to racial and ethnic groups. Sexual orientation as an issue in career development. Sociological approaches. Conclusion. PART II. THE MOVE TOWARD INTEGRATION AND CONVERGENCE. 7. TOWARD INTEGRATION IN CAREER THEORY. Underlying worldviews. Stages in integration and convergence. The 1990s focus on convergence. The present position of career theory. Conclusion. 8. SYSTEMS THEORY. The development of systems theory. General systems theory. Issues in systems theory. Systems theory elements. Systems theory perspectives in career theory. Systems theory and related conceptualizations. Conclusion. 9. A SYSTEM THEORY FRAMEWORK OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT. Development of the framework. The individual. The individual system. The contextual system. Recursiveness. Change over time. Chance. Advantages of a systems theory framework. Implications of a systems theory perspective. Application of the systems theory framework. The individual as a learning system. Conclusion. PART III. SYSTEMS THEORY AND CAREER PRACTICE. 10. LIFELONG CAREER DEVELOPMENT LEARNING. The changing context. Consumers of career development services. The case for lifelong learning. Implications for career development facilitators. Learning systems. Conclusion. 11. CAREER DEVELOPMENT LEARNING SYSTEMS. The nature of knowledge and learning. The training dilemma. Training a preferred view. Preparing career counselors. Experiential learning viewed from a systems theory perspective. Conclusion. 12. CAREER DEVELOPMENT LEARNING IN SCHOOL SYSTEMS. Applying the systems theory framework to schools. The time perspective. The school as a subsystem. The school as a system. Implementing career development learning systems. Reviewing career development learning in schools from a systems theory perspective. Conclusion. 13. THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS. Behind the scenes. Center stage, the trait-and-factor approach. A scene change. Waiting in the wings: Constructivism. The set design, systems theory perspective. Rehearsal means of reviewing practice. A lead role? The decision is ours! 14. LIFELONG LEARNING IN SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS. Supervision as a learning system. Supervision and its links with service provision. The content of lifelong learning. The process of learning and career counselor development. The learning environment. The supervisory system within a system. Supervision from a systems theory perspective. Conclusion. REFERENCES. INDEX.

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