Social cognitive career theory (SCCT) is a complex and extensively researched theory of career choice and performance. Relationships among several key variables of SCCT, including self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and perceived barriers, and their relationships to career choice were investigated. Contrary to prediction, outcome expectations for careers in several Holland themes were positively related to perceived career and educational barriers for women. Self-efficacy for careers in various Holland themes was more strongly associated with beliefs about coping with barriers for men than for women. In support of one of the major predictions of SCCT, high rates of correspondence were found between participants’ career choices and their highest self-efficacy and outcome expectation scores. Explanations for unexpected findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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