007 Parsons' Trait Factor Theory

PARSONS

Trait Factor Theory - concept of matching aptitude and interest profiles with requirements of jobs

Another name for the Trait Factor theory is ACTURIAL or “MATCHING”

What’s wrong with this idea?

Based on the early 1900’s theory of career guidance and the belief that traits are innate and stable over time. If you’ve watched Jerry Springer, you KNOW ‘nothin is stable over time and guess what--research for the most part backs this up....

It’s also a “no duh” that Parsons’ simplistic, deterministic theory just doesn’t fit in with the complex 21st society we live in.

Don’t dump the baby out with the bath water just yet, you still need to know about it for the exam. It was the beginnings of Career Development and relied on testing, testing and you guessed it--testing.

Trait/factor theory was the forerunner of SIGI, CHOICES and other computer systems that you probably took in college and indicated that you would be better suited working as a corn farmer in Nebraska than a therapist in the big city....

Well, if you don’t pass the exam this time, you at least have a direction for an alternative career. Shucking corn, can’t be THAT all difficult... Just kidding!

Traits = personal attributes, strengths, and weaknesses
Factors= conditions for success
True Reasoning = best decision

PARSONS = father of Vocational Guidance

Tripartite emphasis:
1. The individual
2. The occupation
3. The relationship between them

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