Undergraduates (n=108) were assigned to six groups: computerized Career Decision-Making (CDM), computerized Self-Directed Search (SDS), CHOICES, CDM and SDS, wait-listed, or control. Teaching decision-making strategies through CDM improved short- and long-term vocational identity; the informational approach (CHOICES) had long-term impact. Despite…

Proposes that traditional theories of career development are inadequate due to the complexity of today's work world. As changes occur in society and the world-of-work, employment counselors need new ways of dealing with their clients. Introduces employment counselors to the "leisure theory of career development" as an alternative to…

Nearly a century ago, Frank Parsons established the Vocation Bureau in Boston and spawned the development of the counseling profession. Elaborating on Parsons's socially responsible vision for counseling, the authors examine contemporary perspectives on career decision making that include both rational and alternative models and propose that these…

This paper reflects on the need to re-examine cultural and cross-cultural psychology with a view to re-invigorating them and placing them at the center of discourse in career psychology. One perspective that can be employed to achieve these goals is social constructionism in that it questions the centrality of post-positivism in cultural and…

All professional persons engage in a number of activities, but they perform one major function, and their profession is designated by a word which indicates this major function. Counselors are usually called guidance counselors, partly because of their many other activities besides counseling, and partly because many counselors do little or no…

The task of making a career decision can seem daunting for many young people. Careers do not always follow a straightforward, logical trajectory, and chance events can define or change the course of one's career path. Youth may benefit from a learning environment designed to guide the imagining and inventing of their future. A wide range of…

A brief overview of the role of emotions in facilitating client change from a constructivist perspective is provided in this paper. With this background in place, several case studies will be discussed to illustrate the impact and role of emotions in facilitating change in counseling and career development. (Author)

Some career theorists and other professionals have warned about dramatic shifts in the economy and implications for changes needed in career services and theory. This paper proposes that Hollands person-environment model (1997) is a valuable frame of reference for career counselors and instructors to use with clients and students in interpreting…

The author suggests that mature women seek life styles that can provide integration, structure, meaning, and the opportunity for growth and creativity. Traditional career theories don't fit, but a life style counseling concept does. (Author)

Presents an approach to career counseling based on humanistic existentialism (HE). The philosophical and psychological background of HE is reviewed with implications for various counseling dimensions including diagnosis, process, outcomes, interview techniques, test interpretation, and occupational information. (RC)

Discusses various components of adult cognitive development research, such as post-formal thinking and wisdom, with particular reference to the changing nature of careers. Offers 19 propositions concerning the thought processes characterizing effective management of career by individuals and discusses implications of the propositions for career…

Describes the major elements of a lifespan, life-space approach to career development. Looks at the origins of these elements and briefly describes their evolution. Suggests five categories of possible future refinements in this approach so as to enhance theory building, testing, and synthesizing this model's applicability. (RJM)

Discusses the articles in this journal's special section "Adolescent Career Development in Social Context." Identifies common and integrative themes and discusses the theoretical frameworks provided by life-span career development relational perspectives as possible means of integrating some of the findings. Indicates how the findings can inform…

Career indecision, personality, and ability measures used to derive career indecision types through cluster analysis for 566 first-semester, undecided students. Four distinct career indecision types were identified. Subsequently, effect of indecision type on response to a career exploration course was examined. Level of career indecision was not…

Considers criticisms made in the previous article including the failure to define "applied science," inaccuracy in reporting study results, incorrect use of terminology, and ignoring certain relevant areas of literature. Explores possible motivations for the attacks. (RB)