CONSTRUCTIVIST APPROACH TO CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Constructivism - Psychological approach that has developed out of a philosophical position, postmodernism, which believes that individuals construct or perceive their own reality or truth, and that there is no fixed truth.
_ Related to postmodernism
_ View individuals as creating their own views of events and relationships in their lives
_ Constructivist counselors help clients see problems as meaningful options that are no longer helpful
_ Constructivist counselors deal with the ways in which their clients impose their own order on their problems and how they derive meanings from their experiences with others

Postmodernism - Reaction to modernism, which takes a rationalist approach that emphasizes scientific proof and is a reflection of advances in technology and science
_ Reflects a multiculturally diverse world in which different individuals can have their own construct or view of what is real for them

PERSONAL CONSTRUCT PSYCHOLOGY

_ Most closely related to the work of George Kelly (The Psychology of Personal Constructs)
_ Constructive alternativism - individuals view the world differently from each other, to make sense of the world, people develop constructs or theories toward viewing people and events
_ Individuals behave as scientists predicting events by advancing theories about them and then testing the theories, constructs are continually modified to enhance predictions

Constructs
Bipolar-reflecting opposites (e.g. smart vs. stupid)
Not all constructs are applied to all events
Constructs are arranged in terms of how meaningful they are to individuals
Can be grouped into themes (e.g. related to the work role and to vocational choice)
Not events, but perception of events

Vocational construct system
_ Helps individuals to find a purpose in work
_ Control how they work
_ Evaluate the choices they make and the work that they do
_ Develop a sense of identity through work
_ Changes as an individual develops

Assessment and Counseling Strategies
Techniques that help assess clients’ perceptions of constructs about themselves and the occupational world are likely to lead to new constructs and the development of themes
Counselor interacts in a very collaborative way with the client

The Vocational Reptest
Most used instrument in construct theory
“Role Construct Repertory Test” is the full name
Client provides much of the information used in the reptest
Clients describe constructs related to occupations
Client is asked to compare and contrast various sets of items (e.g. occupations)
After comparing occupations, client would be asked to rate them
Requires time devoted to writing, ranking, and scoring

Laddering Technique
A means of determining which constructs are most important to clients
Helps identify the relative importance of the constructs within their system of constructs
Starts with choosing three occupations and then developing constructs about them by asking questions about them
Counselor continues to focus on questions about constructs as he moves up the “ladder”
Helps to clarify own feelings

Vocational Card Sort
VCS is a group of 60 to 100 cards with the name of an occupation on one side and information about the occupation on the other side
Clients are asked to sort the cards in three groups
_ Occupations one would consider or find acceptable
_ Those that one would not choose
_ Those that one is uncertain about
Then client must divide the three piles in any way by placing the cards in groups that have common reasons for acceptance or rejection
Counselor is attempting to determine the values or constructs that are important.