The Systems Theory Framework (STF) is presented as an integrating and organising concept for the predominant theories of career. In order to test the integrative capacity of the STF, this research merges the STF's theoretical element of story with the Theory of Dialogical Self's model of personality. Implications for the practice of career counselling are discussed along with a working example of a career assessment procedure informed by the STF and the Theory of Dialogical Self. It is concluded that integration of the two theoretical bodies adds to the STF's explanatory capacity. There is further scope, however, for STF's integration with theories based upon varying epistemological and ontological assumptions.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BlusteinD. L. (1994). ‘Who am I?’ The question of self and identity In career development. In SavickasM.LentR. W. (Eds.), Convergence in career development theories (pp. 139–154). Palo Alto, CA: CPP Books.
2.
BlusteinD. L. (2006). The psychology of working. A new perspective for career development, counseling, and public policy. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
3.
BordinE. S. (1994). Intrinsic motivation and the active self. In SavickasM. L.LentR. W. (Eds.), Convergence in career development theories: Implications for science and practice (pp. 53–61). Palo Alto, CA: CPP Books.
4.
BuberM. (1958/1923). I and Thou (SmithR. G., Trans. 2nd ed.). Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark.
5.
BujoldC. (2004). Constructing career through narrative. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 64, 470–484.
6.
CochranL. (1997). Career counseling: A narrative approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
7.
GergenK. J. (1992). Toward a postmodern psychology. In KvaleS. (Ed.), Psychology and postmodernism (pp. 17–30). London: Sage.
8.
HermansH. J. M. (2001). The construction of a personal position repertoire: Method and practice. Culture & Psychology, 7 (3), 323–365.
9.
HermansH. J. M. (2002a). The dialogical self as a society of mind: Introduction. Theory & Psychology, 12 (2), 147–160.
10.
HermansH. J. M. (2002b). The dialogical self: One person, different stories. In KashimaY.FoddyM.PlatowM. (Eds.), Self and identity: Personal, social, and symbolic (pp. 71–99). Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
11.
HermansH. J. M. (2003). The construction and reconstruction of a dialogical self. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 16, 89–130.
12.
HermansH. J. M. (2006a). Moving through three paradigms, yet remaining the same thinker. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 19 (1), 5–25.
13.
HermansH. J. M. (2006b). The self as a theater of voices: Disorganization and reorganization of a position repertoire. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 19, 147–169.
14.
HermansH. J. M.DimaggioG. (Eds.) (2004). The dialogical self in psychotherapy. Hove: Brunner-Routledge.
15.
HermansH. J. M.Hermans-JansenE. (1995). Self-narratives: The construction of meaning in psychotherapyNew York:Guilford Press.
16.
HermansH. J. M.KempenH. J. G. (1993). The dialogical self: Meaning as movement. San Diego: Academic Press.
17.
HermansH. J. M.KempenH. J. G.van LoonR.J.P. (1992). The dialogical self: Beyond individualism and rationalism. American Psychologist, 47 (1), 23–33.
18.
HermansH. J. M.RijksT. I.KempenH. J. G. (1993). Imaginal dialogues in the self: Theory and method. Journal of Personality, 61 (2), 207–236.
19.
InksonK. (2007). Understanding careers: The metaphors of working lives. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
20.
JamesW. (1890/1952). The principles of psychology. Chicago, IL: William Benton.
21.
LentR. W.HackettG. (1994). Sociocognitive mechanisms of personal agency In career development: Pantheoretical prospects. In SavickasM. L.LentR. W. (Eds.), Convergence in career development theories: Implications for science and practice (pp. 77–101). Palo Alto, CA: CPP Books.
22.
McIlveenP. (2006). My Career Chapter: A Dialogical Autobiography. Unpublished manuscript.
23.
McIlveenP. (2007). Counsellors' personal experience and appraisal of My Career Chapter. Australian Journal of Career Development, 16 (2), 12–19.
24.
McIlveenP.McGregor-BayneH.AlcockA.HjertumE. (2003). Evaluation of a semi-structured career assessment interview derived from systems theory framework. Australian Journal of Career Development, 12, 33–41.
25.
McIlveenP.PattonW. (2007). Dialogical self: Author and narrator of career life themes. The Bulletin.
26.
McMahonM. (2006). Working with storytellers: A metaphor for career counselling. In McMahonM.PattonW. (Eds.), Career counselling: Constructivist approaches (pp. 16–29). London: Routledge.
27.
McMahonM. (Life story counselling: Producing new identities in career counselling. In MareeK. (Ed.), On life stories: A narrative approach to career development and counselling. Pretoria, South Africa: Van Shaik.
28.
McMahonM.PattonW. (2006). The systems theory framework: A conceptual and practical map for career counselling. In McMahonM.PattonW. (Eds.), Career counselling: Constructivist approaches (pp. 94–109). London: Routledge.
29.
McMahonM.PattonW.WatsonM. (2005). My System of Career Influences. Camberwell: Australian Council for Educational Research.
30.
PattonW.McMahonM. (2006). Career development and systems theory: Connecting theory and practice. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
31.
PolkinghorneD. E. (1992). Postmodern epistemology of practice. In KvaleS. (Ed.), Psychology and postmodernism (pp. 146–165). London: Sage.
32.
RicoeurP. (1992). Oneself as another. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
33.
SavickasM. (2005). The theory and practice of career construction. In BrownS. D.LentR. W. (Eds.), Career development and counseling: Putting theory and research to work (pp. 42–70). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
34.
SavickasM.LentR. W. (Eds.) (1994). Convergence in career development theories. Palo Alto: CPP Books.
35.
SchultheissD. E. P. (2005). Qualitative relational career assessment: A constructivist paradigm. Journal of Career Assessment, 13 (4), 381–394.
