[07/17/2024] Making vocational choices

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Holland, J. L. (1997). Making vocational choices A theory of vocational personalities and work environments (3rd ed.).pdf

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Making vocational choices;: A theory of careers (Prentice-Hall series in counseling and human development)Amazon.com

The Realistic Type

The special heredity and experiences of the Realistic person lead to a preference for activities that entail the explicit, ordered, or systematic manipulation of objects, tools, machines, and animals and to an aversion to educational or therapeutic activities. These behavioral tendencies lead in turn to the acquisition of manual, mechanical, agricultural, electrical, and technical competencies and to a deficit in social and educational competencies.

This development of a Realistic pattern of activities, competencies, and interests creates a person who is predisposed to exhibit the following characteristics:

1. Vocational and Avocational Preferences: Prefers Realistic occupations or situations (e.g., electrician or mechanic) in which one can engage in preferred activities and avoid the activities demanded by Social occupations or situations. Can also associate with people having similar beliefs, interests, and values and avoid people with dissimilar interests, beliefs, and values. Has a narrow range of interests.

2. Life Goals and Values: Possesses traditional values. Prefers to work within institutional restraints. Believes in freedom (independence or free choice). Ranks being ambitious and self-controlled as important values and deprecates being forgiving. Values being practical-minded, (to get "one’s money’s worth, to take good care of one’s property, to get full use out of one’s possessions" (Gordon, 1975, p. 97). In general, values concrete things or tangible personal characteristics. Possesses a very closed system of beliefs and values (i.e., not open to change in beliefs and behavior) and has a narrow range of interests.

3. Self-Beliefs: Perceives self as having mechanical, technical, and athletic abilities. Enjoys working with hands, tools, machines, electronic equipment. Perceives self as lacking ability in human relations, and believes some social tasks (e.g., teaching) would be frustrating. Remembers disliking and doing poorly at scholarly tasks. Has relatively low self-esteem, but has confidence in his or her realistic skills.

4. Problem Solving Style: Uses realistic beliefs, competencies, and values to solve problems at work and in other settings. Prefers concrete, practical, and structured solutions or strategies as opposed to clerical, scholarly, or imaginative activities.

   Because the Realistic person possesses these preferences, beliefs, competencies, self-perceptions, and values, he or she is apt to be:

   • Conforming

   • Materialistic

   • Realistic

   • Dogmatic

   • Natural

   • Reserved

   • Genuine

   • Normal

   • Robust

   • Hardheaded

   • Persistent

   • Self-effacing

   • Inflexible

   • Practical

   • Uninsightful

The Investigative Type

The special heredity and experiences of the Investigative person lead to a preference for activities that entail the observational, symbolic, systematic, and creative investigation of physical, biological, and cultural phenomena (in order to understand and control such phenomena) and to an aversion to persuasive, social, and repetitive activities. These behavioral tendencies lead in turn to an acquisition of scientific and mathematical competencies and to a deficit in persuasive competencies.

This development of an Investigative pattern of activities, competencies, and interests creates a person who is predisposed to exhibit the following characteristics:

1. Vocational and Avocational Preferences: Prefers Investigative occupations or situations (e.g., biologist or medical technologist) in which one can engage in preferred activities and competencies and avoid the activities demanded by Enterprising occupations or situations. Can also find people with similar beliefs and values and avoid people with dissimilar beliefs and values.

2. Life Goals and Values: Values scientific or scholarly activities and achievements. Values self-determination (independence) as well as personal traits such as being intellectual, logical, and ambitious, but holds other life goals or values as less important. family security, being cheerful, having true friendships. Possesses an open system of beliefs.

   Has liberal goals and values and is open to new ideas and experience. Has a wide range of interests.

3. Self-Beliefs: Perceives self as having scientific or research ability as well as mathematical talent. Sees self as analytical, curious, scholarly, and having broad interests. Enjoys reading or thinking about solutions to problems. Believes that persuading others about a course of action would be frustrating. Sees self as broad-minded and having a wide range of interests. Has moderate to high self-esteem.

4. Problem-Solving Style: Uses investigative beliefs, competencies, and values to solve problems at work and in other settings. Seeks challenging problems. Relies on thinking, gathering information, careful analyses, objective data, and related scholarly practices. Pays less attention to personal feelings or the social environment.

   Because the Investigative person possesses these beliefs, preferences, competencies, self-perceptions, and values, he or she is apt to be:

   • Analytical

   • Cautious

   • Complex

   • Critical

   • Curious

   • Independent

   • Intellectual

   • Introspective

   • Pessimistic

   • Precise

   • Radical

   • Rational

   • Reserved

   • Retiring

   • Unassuming

The Artistic Type

The special heredity and experiences of the Artistic person lead to a preference for ambiguous, free, unsystematized activities that entail the manipulation of physical, verbal, or human materials to create art forms or products and to an aversion to explicit, systematic, and ordered activities. These behavioral tendencies lead in turn to an acquisition of artistic competencies (e.g., language, art, music, drama, writing) and to a deficit in clerical or business system competencies.

This development of an Artistic pattern of activities, competencies, and interests creates a person who is predisposed to exhibit the following characteristics:

1. Vocational and Avocational Preferences: Prefers Artistic occupations or situations (e.g., writer or interior decorator) in which one can engage in preferred activities and competencies and avoid the activities demanded by Conventional occupations or situations. Can also associate with people having similar beliefs and values and avoid people with dissimilar beliefs and values.

2. Life Goals and Values: Values aesthetic experience and achievement. Values self-expression and equality for all as well as personal characteristics such as being imaginative and courageous but not being obedient, logical, or responsible. Has the most open belief system of the types. Very open to feelings and ideas, and to others. Has liberal goals and values.

3. Self-Beliefs: Perceives self as expressive, open, original, intuitive, liberal, nonconforming, introspective, independent, disorderly, having artistic and musical ability, and ability in acting, writing, and speaking. Enjoys engaging in activities that use these abilities and traits but would be frustrated with business activities such as keeping elaborate and accurate records.

4. Problem Solving Style: Uses artistic beliefs, competencies, and values to solve problems at work or in other settings. Perceives problems in artistic context, so artistic talents and personal traits (e.g., intuition, expressiveness, originality) dominate the problem-solving process.

Because the Artistic person possesses these beliefs, preferences, competencies, self-perceptions, and values, he or she is apt to be:

• Complicated

• Disorderly

• Emotional

• Expressive

• Idealistic

• Imaginative

• Impractical

• Impulsive

• Independent

• Introspective

• Intuitive

• Nonconforming

• Open

• Original

• Sensitive

The Social Type

The special heredity and experiences of the Social person lead to a preference for activities that entail the manipulation of others to inform, train, develop, cure, or enlighten and an aversion to explicit, ordered, systematic activities involving materials, tools, or machines. These behavioral tendencies lead in turn to an acquisition of human relations competencies (e.g., interpersonal and educational) and to a deficit in manual and technical competencies.

This development of a Social pattern of activities, competencies, and interests creates a person who is predisposed to exhibit the following characteristics:

1. Vocational and Avocational Preferences: Prefers Social occupations and situations (e.g., teacher or counselor) in which one can engage in preferred activities and avoid the activities demanded by Realistic occupations and situations. Can also associate with people having similar beliefs and values.

2. Life Goals and Values: Values social and ethical activities and problems. Wants to serve others in the context of medical support, institutional service, or reciprocal interactions. Believes in equality for all and the desirability of being helpful and forgiving, but deprecates being logical and intellectual or having an exciting life. Aspires to become a competent parent, teacher, or therapist. Values religion.

3. Self-Beliefs: Perceives self as liking to help others, understanding of others, having teaching ability, social skills, and lacking mechanical and scientific ability. Would be frustrated in preparing a textbook on an abstract topic, or doing something that requires patience and precision, or overhauling an automobile. Most gratified by helping or teaching others. Has moderately open belief system, but has somewhat traditional values. Has moderate self-esteem.

4. Problem-Solving Style: Uses social beliefs, competencies, and values to solve problems at work or in other settings. Perceives problems in a social context so problems are viewed more often in human relations terms; social competencies and traits (e.g., seeking mutual interactions and help from others, etc.) dominate the problem-solving process.

Because the Social person possesses these beliefs, preferences, competencies, self-perceptions, and values, he or she is apt to be:

• Agreeable

• Cooperative

• Empathic

• Friendly

• Generous

• Helpful

• Idealistic

• Kind

• Patient

• Persuasive

• Responsible

• Sociable

• Tactful

• Understanding

• Warm

The Enterprising Type

The special heredity and experiences of the Enterprising person lead to a preference for activities that entail the manipulation of others to attain organizational goals or economic gain and an aversion to observational, symbolic, and systematic activities. These behavioral tendencies lead in turn to an acquisition of leadership, interpersonal, and persuasive competencies and to a deficit in scientific competencies.

This development of an Enterprising pattern of activities, competencies, and interests creates a person who is predisposed to exhibit the following characteristics:

1. Vocational and Avocational Preferences: Prefers Enterprising occupations or situations (e.g., sales person or manager) in which one can engage in preferred activities and avoid the activities demanded by Investigative occupations and situations. Can also associate with people having similar interests, beliefs, and values.

2. Life Goals and Values: Has traditional values (e.g., economic and political achievement). Values controlling others, the opportunity to be free of control, and being ambitious. Deprecates being forgiving or helpful. Aspires to becoming a leader in commerce, a community leader, influential in public affairs, and being well dressed.

3. Self-Beliefs: Perceives self as aggressive, popular, self-confident, sociable, possessing leadership and speaking abilities, and lacking scientific ability. Would find holding a position of power most gratifying. Would be most frustrated by having a position of little influence. Has high self-esteem. Holds traditional values. Has a somewhat closed belief system (i.e., not amenable to change in beliefs, values, or behavior).

4. Problem-Solving Style: Uses Enterprising beliefs, competencies, and values to solve problems at work or in other situations. Perceives problems in an enterprising context so problems are often viewed in social influence terms. Enterprising traits, competencies, and values (e.g., control of others, traditional beliefs) dominate the problem-solving process.

Because the Enterprising person possesses these beliefs, preferences, competencies, self-perceptions, and values, he or she is apt to be:

• Acquisitive

• Adventurous

• Ambitious

• Assertive

• Domineering

• Energetic

• Enthusiastic

• Excitement-seeking

• Exhibitionistic

• Extroverted

• Forceful

• Optimistic

• Resourceful

• Self-confident

• Sociable

The Conventional Type

The special heredity and experiences of the Conventional person lead to a preference for activities that entail the explicit, ordered, systematic manipulation of data (e.g., keeping records, filing materials, reproducing materials, organizing business machines and data processing equipment to attain organizational or economic goals) and to an aversion to ambiguous, free, exploratory, or unsystematized activities. These behavioral tendencies lead in turn to an acquisition of clerical, computational, and business system competencies and to a deficit in artistic competencies.

This development of a Conventional pattern of activities, competencies, and interests creates a person who is predisposed to exhibit the following characteristics:

1. Vocational and Avocational Preferences: Prefers Conventional occupations or situations (e.g., bookkeeper or banker) in which one can engage in preferred activities and avoid the activities demanded by Artistic occupations or situations. Can also associate with people having similar interests, beliefs, and values and avoid people with dissimilar qualities.

2. Life Goals and Values: Values business and economic achievement. Believes becoming an expert in finance or commerce, leading a comfortable life, and doing a lot of work are important goals. Prefers to work within the structure of an organization or institution. Values are characterized by traditional virtues (e.g., conservative, religious, economic, and political aims). Believes it is desirable to be ambitious, obedient, and polite. Believes that aesthetic activities and close companionship as well as being forgiving or imaginative are of lesser value. Has a very closed belief system.

3. Self-Beliefs: Perceives self as conforming and orderly, and as having clerical and numerical ability. Sees greatest competencies in business and weakest in the arts. Enjoys keeping records and doing computational work. Anticipates that writing a poem or persuading others would entail frustration. Has low self-esteem.

4. Problem Solving Style: Uses conventional beliefs, competencies, and values to solve problems at work and in other situations. Follows established rules, practices, and procedures; looks to authorities for advice and counsel. Seeks practical solutions and engages in orderly and careful planning. Has difficulty with ambiguous problems or in synthesizing information from diverse sources.

Because the Conventional person possesses these beliefs, preferences, competencies, self-perceptions, and values, he or she is apt to be:

• Careful

• Conforming

• Conscientious

• Dogmatic

• Efficient

• Inflexible

• Inhibited

• Methodical

• Obedient

• Orderly

• Persistent

• Practical

• Thorough

• Thrifty

• Unimaginative