Berzonsky (1989) describes three distinct behavioral strategies by
which people construct, maintain, and revise their psychosocial iden-
tities. When applied to the formation of vocational identities, these
strategies represent three different patterns of dispositions and com-
petencies for thinking about self in relation to the world of work.
Theinformationalstyle uses exploration and problem-focused
coping to integrate role models into a cohesive and unitary whole
and then make suitable and viable choices. The informational style
springs from secure attachment in the growth stage and leads to
identity achievement. It can be conceptualized as steady develop-
ment and application of the dispositions and competencies in the
structural model of career choice. There are, of course, individual
differences in the rate and trend of this steady development.
Thenormativestyle, often leading to identity foreclosure and
pseudo-crystallization of vocational preferences, conforms to the pre-
scriptions and expectations of significant others. This style springs
from a preoccupied attachment and seeks to preserve the existing
identification as part of a family. Rather than explore the self, individ-
uals who use the normative style protect the self from external threats
by adhering to the family’s occupational specifications. In cultures that
prioritize individual desires over family needs, the normative style may
be conceptualized as delayed development of adaptive dispositions
toward career construction, thereby inhibiting the use of choice com-
petencies and forgoing performance of choice behaviors. The avoidant
style overuses delay and procrastination in an effort to ignore, for as
long as possible, problems and choices. Those who use the avoidant
style prefer emotionally focused coping and seem to lack role models.
This style springs from negative perceptions of others that leads to dif-
fuse identity and, if self is also evaluated as negative, to a disorganized
identity. Diffuse and disorganized identities generally produce unsta-
ble work histories. The avoidant style can be conceptualized as dis-
rupted development of both dispositions and competencies.
Actualization. The third and final task of the exploration stage—
actualizing an occupational choice—requires that the individual realize
a choice by converting it into actions that make it a fact. Actualizing
176 CAREER CHOICE AND DEVELOPMENT