Career Choice and Development

traits) and thereby identify more genetically congenial activities

and social niches. But with the benefits of freedom come costs; the

same freedom that allows some people to climb to the heights of

human possibility allows others to descend to its depths of despair

and depravity. The same freedom that some individuals experience

as a release from social bondage others experience as chaos.

126 CAREER CHOICE AND DEVELOPMENT

from smaller

External
factors:

Freedom

Age

to larger

Change in Menu Size

from birth niche

Common, group-general exposure:

Typical experiences, opportunities of birth groups

(family, race, gender, social class, etc.)

(passive gene-environment correlation)

Differential, person-generated exposure:

• Evokes different reactions, opportunities from environment
  (reactive gene-environment correlation)


• Seeks, changes and creates environments, opportunities,
  and experiences
  (active gene-environment correlation)
  Differential, sensitivity to same exposure:
  Is more (or less) affected by a particular experience,
  compared to other children
  (gene-environment interaction)

to person-specific niche

Evolution of Menu Content

Internal
factors:

Openness to experience

Active versus passive

FIGURE4.7. Influences on Child’s Menu of Possible

Developmental Experiences