Exploring Career Development Theories

Week 9 Discussion 1 Response

(Exploring Career Development Theories)

Please no plagiarism and make sure you are able to access all resource on your own before you bid. One of the references must come from Broderick and Blewitt (2015). I need this completed by 01/26/18 at 3pm. Respond to at least two of my colleagues using one or more of the following approaches:

· Offer and support an alternative theory (not discussed in this week’s Learning Resources) that validates or opposes a colleague’s identified meaning of work and career.

· Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.

· Expand on your colleague’s posting by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.

(B. Smi)(Exploring Career Development Theories)

Broderick and Blewitt (2015) imply that work and the ability to obtain and maintain a career are seen as momentous developmental tasks. In order to complete this task, one must have adequate knowledge of self. Knowledge of self will assist an individual in finding suitable employment that best meets their skills and capabilities.

Significance and Meaning

Research has indicated that an individual is most likely to achieve job satisfaction, successful performance, and stability when pursuing a career that matches their personal style. The individual must also be able to meet the demands of the position. Holland’s Theory of Personality –Environment Types declares that adults possess a desired way of completing social and environmental tasks. Holland insists that an individual’s approach is likely to be similar to the type of career they seek. An example of this would be an individual who’s personal orientation is social working in a customer service, social service, or any kind of helping field. Another example could include someone who is artistic pursuing freelance work or teaching art or dance classes.

Another theory that exhibits the importance of work and career within the development of young adults is Erikson’s Theory of Identity Development. Erikson argues that the significance of work begins during the elementary school years where they are required to grasp educational studies and sometimes household chores. Broderick and Blewitt (2015) declare that the formation of identity continues into young adulthood and is often founded on one’s attitude/view of themselves created in childhood. Erikson’s Theory concludes that a child or young adult with a sense of industry (belief in their abilities) and a sense of self will be more likely to succeed in finding a career that provides satisfaction (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). Feelings of industry are important as they encourage hard work and perseverance. Research has indicated that an individual who receives satisfaction from their work life could then feel more compelled to assist in their other roles (Kuchinke, 2010). Dissatisfaction with employment could cause a husband and father to be less attentive once he arrives home.

Personal Reflection(Exploring Career Development Theories)

Prior to obtaining my bachelor’s degree (Child and Family Studies), majority of my work experience involved children. I’ve always been drawn to helping professions. I’ve worked in day cares, summer camps, and vacation bible schools. Later, it was resident assistants, college assistance offices, and child protective services. While working in cps, I got to help families but I mostly enjoyed talking to them. A lot of people just wanted to be heard and I enjoyed that. I’ve participated in counseling myself and appreciated how helpful and dare I say therapeutic it was. Talking, listening, and goal setting is a big part of my current position. I also think it fits my personality. I believe the counseling profession could add meaning to my life as it would be a constant learning experience. No one session will be the same. I believe that there will be similarities, but nothing exactly alike. As a person who spends a lot of time in their hand was raised unable to express their emotions, I want to be apart of others learning express themselves in a healthy way and acknowledging tis okay to seek assistance.

Summary(Exploring Career Development Theories)

Work and career can impact development both positively and negatively. Children and young adults who maintain a sense of industry and strong sense of self are able to work hard, remain positive, and achieve career satisfaction. In the future, it would be imperative to learn about the client’s view of self and their skill sets to work more effectively with them. Work and career have large influence on satisfaction of life and can affect other areas of an individual’s life in a positive or negative way.

References

Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2015). The life span: Human development for helping professionals (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

Kuchinke, K. P., Cornachione, E. B., Oh, S. Y., & Kang, H.-S. (2010). All work and no play? The meaning of work and work stress of mid-level managers in the United States, Brazil, and Korea. Human Resource Development International, 13(4), 393–408.

(S. Mor)(Exploring Career Development Theories)

The distinctive difference between work and career is easily summarized by deciding I am working a job to survive in this world, or I am in my career of choice which I prepared for and it is my passion that fuels the fire inside of me in my career. Work tends to become a tedious assignment that we despise, but it pays the bills. Mondays are painful and Fridays are rejoiced because of a two day break that goes entirely too fast. Careers produce acceptable long hours, off days are forced at times by family and friends, and there is a large amount of fulfillment, drive, and pride that comes about when you are in your career of choice. In this discussion I chose Supers Developmental Approach and Erikson’s Theory of Identity Development. Super’s Theory explains that the way we see or think about ourselves, may change as we obtain different experiences in life (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). Erikson’s Theory on the way we view ourselves, is based on children working and having the ability to figure out who they are based on the job they are working (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). However, keep in mind this concept works well during the Industrial Revolution when children began working at age 5 or 6 (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015).

Theoretical Foundations(Exploring Career Development Theories)

Super’s Theory is a process that takes time and is developed continuously over an individual’s lifespan (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). The way we look at ourselves and figure out who we are, may be done when we have the ability to have a career that we have chosen. Vocational self-concept is defined as a person’s identity that coincides with the details that a career of their choice demands ((Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). For example, in our class we all have shown an interest and determination to become counselors. Regardless of the reasons why we have chose this field, we all are dedicated to empower ourselves by paying for higher education, striving for excellent grades, and excelling as students which will also prompt us to excel as counselors. Basically this is a choice that we have made because there is a passion inside of us that wants this more than life itself. The obstacles we may encounter will not be a deterrent, but fuel added to the fire that allows us to keep pushing class after class, and assignment after assignment. Everyday no matter how tired we are from work, spouses, children, bills, and many other demands the time that is devoted to completing school work is found. The path we are on is not easy because if it was everyone would do it, but there is something special about us that screams to others I need your help and we are learning to do that. Personal characteristics that do not align with my career would cause my life to be filled with regret daily. The idea of sleeping sounds better than facing the people at my job, and my attitude would appear as if other employees or clients are bothering me. Super’s developmental stages repeat themselves through the course of a person’s lifespan (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). The time period between birth to age 15 is developing the interests that define who a child wants to become (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). My daughter from the times she was 7 has always been fascinated with animals, and has said she will be a veterinarian. I have encouraged her and at age 19 she is a freshman in college studying veterinarian courses. The next stage is exploratory which occurs from 15 to 24 and a little more focus on what you want to become may be evident, but the decision may still appear indecisive (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). Establishment which is prevalent from 25 to 44 is the stage where we should know what we want to do, and through working we establish this (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). The next stage occurs from 45 to 64 and is called maintenance, basically allows us to continually get better in work performance with a climb up the corporate ladder (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). The final stage is called Decline which occurs after 65, and people are faced with retirement opportunities, less responsibilities in work, and eventually retirement (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). My mother who is in her 70’s retired from corporate America but began working part time at Macy’s because she was bored. Upon asking her why she not able to just relax is, her response to me was “When older people stop working, they will die because they have nothing to do.”

Erikson’s Theory of Identity Development describes the way we view who we are when small children begin to work serious jobs in different societies (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). I am aware that many cultures employ their children at very young ages, and some will work alongside their parents until they are able to work alone. However, it is hard to fathom because this is not a part of the culture in the United States, especially after Child Slave Labor Laws were established in the early 1900’s. “Little theoretical attention has been paid to why such cross-time influences should characterize human development” (Belsky, 2010). I do believe that children should learn responsibilities and be assigned chores that require them to assist in the house. My children knew when they were two years old if I played Barney the purple dinosaurs Clean Up song, it prompted them to put their toys in the toy chest. Elementary children according to Erikson should gain an insight of what they are capable of doing, while teens mirror that of adults in the work industry (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). Children mimic their parents and when they are able to see them living positive productive lives the habits of hard work will be present in their lives.

Personal Reflection(Exploring Career Development Theories)

As a child I was a daddy’s girl, mainly because he was the only male in the house that consisted of my mom and three daughters. The rollercoaster of emotions and female bickering was constant, but my dad knew how to put every drama filled emotion out without us feeling like we didn’t matter. My mother was the disciplinarian and my father was our savior because he knew how to keep everyone calm. My father was a social worker that specialized in severe child abuse cases, and I remember the feelings he would express to my mom when he was able to save a child. I have seen my dad cry many times, but I never saw him get upset to the point where he was cussing or fighting in his personal or professional life. The cases he had made me want to put some of the adults that made their children suffer devastating circumstances stand in front of a firing squad as their punishment. Watching how blessed my dad lived and how passionate he was in his career, gave me the strength to figure out what I want to do with my life. I know who I am and one thing I inherited from my dad is the fact that I am always evolving. Every time I master something I want to learn how to become better than I was the year before or even the day before. When I was a child my dad was the calm mild manner personality in our house, he was the voice of reason. My mother was the fire and pretty much ran the entire house. Please understand both of my parents are awesome and I am blessed beyond measure. I used to get upset with my dad if my mom said something mean or direct to him, because he would never ever say anything back to her. I would tell him dad you need to stand up to her, or dad why do you allow her to talk to you like that? My parents were married 48 years when my dad passed, and that is when I realized the strength he had in him was greater than any man I know. Do you know how hard it is to keep quiet when someone is saying something mean to you? I know it is something that I struggle with daily because I have a low tolerance for disrespect or rudeness. I learned it is so easy for people to go back and forth with words, and some will even physically fight. The strength it takes to walk away is one of the keys to happiness because in that strength you realize the aggressor has no power over you. No matter what they say to you the power is in not responding which is incredibly difficult. I wish when my dad was alive I would have understood this because he tried to teach me. I finally got it and because of this lesson it made me want to live my life helping people figure out their lives. I do feel my calling to be a counselor is divine intervention, but no matter what it takes to become the best counselor ever I will do it over and over again.

Summary(Exploring Career Development Theories)

The choice we make in deciding if we want to work or have a career is a vital decision that will impact and set the tone for the life you are living. Differences occur when we get up in the morning, get dressed for a job or a passion. The formula for some may be easy, and then for others it may be difficult, because survival of life at times may come in the form of a job. The purpose in each of us has to supersede the survival because only then will you feel fulfillment in living the life that you were destined to live. Applying Super’s Developmental Approach which I am more in favor of will help my clients understand that they have the ability to develop any career they want the entire time they are living. Erikson’s Theory of Identity Development I do not foresee me using often with a practice in the United States. However if I am ever counseling in a culture that has children that begin working at 5 or 6 his theory will be quite useful.

References

Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2015). The life span: Human development for helping professionals (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

Belsky, J. (2010). Childhood experience and the development of reproductive strategies. Psicothema, 22(1), 28–34.

Readings(Exploring Career Development Theories)

· Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2015). The life span: Human development for helping professionals (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

o Chapter 12, “Socioemotional and Vocational Development in Young Adulthood” (review pp. 438-476)

o Chapter 13, “Middle Adulthood: Cognitive, Personality, and Social Development” (pp. 478-525)

Belsky, J. (2010). Childhood experience and the development of reproductive strategies. Psicothema, 22(1), 28–34.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Brandell, J. R. (2010). Contemporary psychoanalytic perspectives on attachment. Psychoanalytic Social Work, 17(2), 132–157.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Halrynjo, S. (2009). Men’s work-life conflict: Career, care and self-realization: Patterns of privileges and dilemmas. Gender, Work & Organization, 16(1), 98–125.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Newton, N., & Stewart, A. J. (2010). The middle ages: Changes in women’s personalities and social roles. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34(1),75–84.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Rodriguez, P. D., & Ritchie, K. L. (2009). Relationship between coping styles and adult attachment styles. Journal of the Indiana Academy of the Social Sciences, 13, 131–141.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Exploring Career Development Theories

Week 9 Discussion 1 Response