428 CAREER CHOICE AND DEVELOPMENT
of the observer observing the observation. Also in psychology, the
nature of the observer may influence the observation or the record-
ing of the observation or both. Psychological data often depend on
who is doing the observing and how the observing is being done.
Subjective reality lies in the awareness of the person. In the last
analysis, what we call reality resides in the person alone and is
known only to the person. Subjective reality consists of an “inner
world” that is accessible only to the person and an “outer world”
that is accessible also to other persons and forms the foundation for
objective reality. A person can reach consensus with other persons
about things and events in the outer world, hence consensus is the
basis for objective reality. But because only one person can directly
observe it, there is no similar basis for consensus about a person’s
inner world. Much of psychology is about this inner world, but psy-
chology deals with the outer world as well.
This “two-world view” is unique to psychology among all the
sciences, and it complicates the rigorous application of scientific
methodology. One way psychologists have approached this problem
is through P-E theory. In P-E theory, the two-world view is reduced
to a two-entity encounter—the interaction between person and
environment—hence, person-environment (P-E) theory.
Person-Environment Theory
Generic P-E theory assumes two entities in interaction: person (P)
and environment (E). P-E theory may appear to focus on P, but in
P-E theory P cannot be understood without E. E may be defined
narrowly or broadly; it may be limited to people (other persons)
only; it may be the physical environment only; it may be short term
or long term. Furthermore, the interaction between P and E may be
momentary or sustained. Indeed, one immediately recognizable dif-
ference among specific P-E theories is the designation of the E to
which the theories apply (for example, to the work environment
versus the school environment or within the work environment or
to the job environment versus the career environment).