1. Super’s Life Span, Life Space Approach to Careers

2. Overview Developmental theory with 2 major tenets:
1. Career development is a life long process
2. Self concept influences human behavior
Personal self concept
Social self concept
propositions of career development
propositions of career development

3. 14 Propositions 1. Individual differences exist
2. We fit certain occupations
3. Each occupations calls for a specific personality type
4. Our vocational preferences change
5. The process of change is divided into stages
6. Career patterns are influenced by external factors
7. Readiness to deal with the demands of an occupation influence the types of job we will occupy

4. 14 Propositions 8. Career maturity is a psychosocial construct
9. Development is guided by many factors
10. Career development is the implementation of occupational self concepts
11. We experiment with occupations to find one that fits
12. Work satisfaction is dependent on numerous variables
13. The greater the implemental in self concepts the greater job satisfaction
14.Work provides a place for personality expression

5. Developmental Stages Growth (birth to age 14 or 15)
4 major developmental tasks
Exploration (ages 15-24)
3 major developmental tasks
Establishment (ages 25-44)
Maintenance (ages 45-64)
Decline (age 65+)

6. Developmental Stages Caveat Progression through stages is flexible
The stags are not linear
Some people have to complete 1 or 2 stages multiple times before moving on
Life Rainbow (page 42)
Archway Model (page 43)

7. Super’s Theory Empirical Evaluations
Difficult to establish empirical support due to the broad nature of the theory
Osipow and Fitzgerald (1996) and Hackett, Lent, and Greenhaus (1991) support Super’s theory in general

8. Super’s Counseling Strategy
1. Assessment in 4 phases
A. life structure and work salience
B. career development status and resources
C. vocational identity
D. occupational self concepts and life themes
2. Data integration and narrative interpretation
3. Counseling goals
4. Procedures
5. Processes

9. Healy’s (1982) Counseling Strategy
Stage 1: establish client individuality
Stage 2: identifying and selecting strategies
Stage 3: teaching and aiding implementation
Stage 4: verifying goal achievement