This book describes and assesses the major theories of career choice and related research. The following are among the topics examined: history of vocational and career psychology (historical foundations; psychoanalytic conceptions of career choice; the Ginzberg, Ginsburg, Axelrad, and Herma theory; Tiedeman's developmental theory; recent history in vocational psychology); occupational classification systems (Roe's occupational classification system, Holland's system, the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, the Minnesota Occupational Classification III); theoretical concepts and definitional issues (concepts and issues related to career, vocational choice, career choice, and vocational adjustment); Holland's career typology theory of vocational behavior; developmental theories of vocational behavior (Super's self-concept developmental theory, aspects of adult career development, a developmental-contextual approach to careers); social learning approaches to career development theory (theory, research evidence, applications); the theory of work adjustment; personality, needs and values, mental health, and careers; social systems perspectives; the career development of women (contemporary theories of women's career development and career adjustment); minority career development (terminology and definitions, concepts and issues, applicability and limits of existing theoretical formulations); applications (career counseling literature, career indecision, career counseling research, career problems); a comparison of theories; and the status of career development. All chapters contain substantial reference lists. (MN)