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As mentioned before, it is not my intention to offer an exhaustive explanation and analysis of each and every Theory. It’s relatively easy to find that information on the many websites and in the many resources out there. It’s my intention to offer something in addition to this, a useful summary that supports different learning styles and an exploration of the tools we can use with clients, linked to the different theories. I would also like to offer a succinct critique with each Theory to get you started. Especially if you are completing your Level 6 Qualification in Career Guidance and Development, it’s imperative that you form your own critique and make up your own mind about each of the different theories you encounter. Normally, none of us have access to a full academic library. The best most of us can hope for is a search on the web and the few books we have. Making your time on the web count is important and I hope the following will help with that:
- If you are exploring a ‘new to you’ Theory, I would suggest starting with a picture search in google or similar. This wil normally bring up a visual representation of the Theory you are exploring. But… be careful you have the right one! This will hopefully give you a quick and easy way into a new Theory.
- Wikipedia, however imprecise it is by reputation, is a good starting point to get to know more about theorists. Also don’t forget the references at the bottom of every Wikipedia page, which can offer an excellent reading list for further exploration.
- By adding the word ‘scholar’ or ‘academic’ behind your search term, you may have access to one of the many extracts of research texts that are available online. Another possible source of references, information and research could be book previews on websites like Amazon and co.
- I have also added some useful links to websites about career Theory in the ‘useful links’ section of this part of the website.
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This symbol indicates theories that would be of particular interest for those studying for the Level 6 Qualification in Career Guidance. Please be aware that these are not the only theories that apply and it would in my view be important to familiarise yourself with other theories as well. In addition to this, there is a specific question (Lo. 6.6.1 and 6.6.2) which focuses on new theories. I think it would also be important to focus on those theories that are specifically important or relevant to your specific work context (eg. working with children or specifically with adults). I have, as far as possible, classified theories using the different icons below. Classification is not always clearly possible or easy and some theories fall in between, or straddle, two or more categories. The categorisation I made is therefore slightly tenuous. It should fit in with the requirements for the Level 6 Qualification in Career Guidance, however.
Differentialism
Theories focusing on specific sociocultural groups
Learning theories
Developmentalism
Theories linked to uplanned events management
Motivational theories
Structuralism
Constructivism
Transition theories and theories of change
Opportunity Structure
Theories derived from psychology/psychotherapy/counselling
Vocational behaviour theories
Social Learning
Theories of deicsion making and avoidance
Community Interaction
Coaching Theories
Career Guidance Theories
Motivation Hygiene Theory – 2 Factor Theory – Frederick Herzberg 1968
3 Step Storyboarding – Bill Law 2008
The Big 5 – Five-factor Model (FFM) or OCEAN Model* – Ernest Tupes & Raymond Christal 1961
7 Stage Model of Change – Ronald Lippitt 1958
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training (ACT) – Tom Luken & Albert de Folter 2000 & 2012
Boundaryless Career – Arthur & Rousseau 1996
Career Anchors – Edgar H. Schein 1975
Career Choice and Attainment Model – Kimberly A.S.Howard 2010
Theory of Career Choice and Development – Psychodynamic Theories – Anne Roe 1956
Career Construction Theory & Life Design – Narrative approach – Mark Savickas 2005
Career Counseling with Underserved Populations Model – Mark Pope 2011
Career Engagement Model – Roberta A. Neault & Deirdre A. Pickerell 2011
Career Inaction Theory – Verbruggen and De Vos, 2019
Career Self Determination Theory – Charles P. Chen 2017
Careership Theory – Phil Hodkinson and Andrew C. Sparkes 1996
Career Writing Method – Reinekke Lengelle & Frans Meijers 2017
Change Management Model – Kurt Lewin 1947
Change Model – Cynthia Scott and Dennis Jaffe 1988
Chaos Theory of Careers – Pryor and Bright 2011
Theory of Self-creation, Circumscription and Compromise – Linda Gottfredson 1981
Client-centred Theory – Patterson 1964, Rogers 1942 & 1951
Cognitive Information Processing Theory – Sampson, Lenz, Reardon, & Peterson 1999
Coherent Career Practice – Kris Magnusson & Dave Redekopp 2011
Community Interaction Theory – Bill Law 1981 & 1996
Constructivist Theory – Chartrand et al., 1995; Cochran, 1997; Collin & Young, 1986; Peavy, 1992; Savickas, 1993 & 1997; Young et al. 1996; Wendy Patton & Mary McMahon 2006
Contextual Action Theory (CAT) – Lev Vygotsky, L. Valach & Young, R. A. 2002
Continuous Participation Model – Danielle Rivern-Simard 2005
Cormier and Hackney Model – Harold L. Hackney & Sherry Cormier, 1993
Culture Infused Counselling Theory (CICC) – Nancy Arthur 2013
Decision Making Model – Tanya Arroba 1977
Decision Making Model – Tiedeman and O’Hara 1963
Design Thinking Model – Bill Burnett and Dave Evans 2007 – 2016
Developmental Theory – Ginzberg et al. 1951
Developmental Theory – Life Span Development – Donald Super 1957 and Donald Super et al. 1961 & 1980
DOTS Model – Law & Watts, 1977 & 1996
Environmental Theory – Matching theories – Trait and Factor Theory – Frank Parsons 1908
Environmental Theory – Matching theories – Trait and Factor Theory – Alec Rodger 1952
Environmental Theory – Matching theories – Trait and Factor Theory – John L. Holland 1966, 1973, 1985, 1992
Expectancy Motivation Theory – Victor Vroom 1964
Experiential Learning Theory – David Kolb 1985
The First Model – Tol Bedford 1982
The Big 5 – Five-factor Model (FFM) or OCEAN Model* – Ernest Tupes & Raymond Christal 1961
GROW Model -Sir John Whitmore 1992
[Planned] Happenstance Learning Theory – Krumboltz & Levin 1999 – 2004; Mitchell et al. 1999
Hierarchy of Needs – Maslow 1954
Hope-Action Theory -Spencer Niles, Norman Amundson, Hyung Joon Yoon, 2010
Integrative Life Planning Theory – Sunny Hansen 1997
Learning Theory of Careers Choice and Counselling (LTCC) – Mitchell and Krumboltz 1996
Life-is-Career Theory – Miller-Tiedeman 1999
Life Span Development – Donald Super 1957 – 1980
Matching theories – Environmental Theory – Trait and Factor Theory – Frank Parsons 1908
Matching theories – Environmental Theory – Trait and Factor Theory – Alec Rodger 1952
Matching theory – Environmental Theory – Trait and Factor Theory – John L. Holland 1966, 1973, 1985, 1992
Motivational Interviewing – William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick 1983
Motivation Hygiene Theory – 2 Factor Theory – Frederick Herzberg 1968
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Model* – Myers and Briggs 1944
Narrative Career Counselling – Savickas (eg 1997), Cochran (eg 1997) & Peavy (eg 2000)
NTU Career Continuum/Careers Scotland Model
The Big 5 – Five-factor Model (FFM) or OCEAN Model* – Ernest Tupes & Raymond Christal 1961
Opportunity Structure Theory – Roberts 1968 – 1997
Planned Happenstance Learning Theory – Krumboltz & Levin 1999 – 2004; Mitchell et al., 1999
Marcr – Career theory: Protean Career – Douglas T. Hall 1976 – traditional versus protean career Protean Career – Douglas T. Hall 1976
Psychodynamic Theories – Mark Savickas 1989
Theory of Career Choice and Development – Psychodynamic Theories – Anne Roe 1956
Psychology of working – David L. Blustein, Ryan D. Duffy, Matthew A. Diemer, Kelsey L. Autin 2013
Reflective Cycle (Gibbs’) – Graham Gibbs 1988
Reflection-in-action Model – Schön 1983
Theory of Self-creation, Circumscription and Compromise – Linda Gottfredson 1981
7 Stage Model of Change – Ronald Lippitt 1958
SeSiFU Model – Bill Law – New DOTS Model
Single Interaction Model – Hazel L. Reid and Alison J. Fielding 2007
Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF)* – Raymond Cattell 1946, 1949, 1965
Skilled Helper Model – Gerard Egan 1998
Skills Development Scotland Model – Liane Hambly 2008
Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) – Hackett & Betz, 1981; Lent, Brown, & Hackett 1994
Social Learning Theory – Albert Bandura 1977 & 1986
Social Learning Theory (SLTCDM) – Krumboltz et al 1976, Mitchell & Krumboltz 1990 & 1996
Solution Focused Career Theory – Judi Miller 2004
Sparks Theory – Minna Kattelus 2010 – 2015
Stages of Change Model – Transtheoretical Model – James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente – 1983
Storyboarding Model (3 Step) – Bill Law 2008 3 Step Storyboarding – Bill Law 2008
Strengths-based Approach – Schutt 2007
Structural Theory (Opportunity Structure Theory) – Roberts 1968 – 1997
Synergistic Theory of Organisational Career Development – Kerry Bernes 1999
Systems Theory Framework of Career Development – Wendy Patton & Mary McMahon 2006
Theory of Career Choice and Development – Psychodynamic Theories – Anne Roe 1956
Theory of Self-creation, Circumscription and Compromise – Linda Gottfredson 1981
Transition Cycle – N. Nicholson and M. A. West 1988
Transition Theory – Schlossberg 1981 & 1989
Transtheoretical Model – Stages of Change Model – James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente – 1983
Two Factor Theory – Frederick Herzberg 1968 – see Motivaton Hygiene Theory
Career Counseling with Underserved Populations Model (CCUP)
Mark Pope 2011 – 2015
Values-Based Model of Career Choice – D Brown 1995, 1996 & 2002; Brown & Crace 1996
The ‘What’ Model – Rolfe, Freshwater & Jasper 2001
The WOOP Model – Gabriele Oettingen, 2014
Work Adjustment Theory – Dawis & Lofquist 1984