Career Choice and Development

(Dawis et al., 1987) illustrates how E measurement may be accom-
plished according to PEC theory. (Note that PEC theory postulates
the symmetry of P and E, which implies that E can also be measured
on abilities and values, and P also on ability requirements and rein-
forcers provided; in practice, however, they are not.)

Propositions of PEC Theory

PEC theory may be stated in a number of propositions adopted from
TWA (Dawis & Lofquist, 1984), which are stated with P as the
point of reference. A parallel set of propositions can be stated with
E as the point of reference, but these will not be given here.
The formal propositions of PEC theory are given next in both
prose form and symbolic form:

Proposition I: P’s correspondence with E is indicated by P’s satisfac-
toriness and satisfaction.

I. SS,SN → pCe or pCe = f(SS,SN)

Proposition II: P’s satisfactoriness is a function of the correspon-
dence of P’s abilities to E’s ability requirements, provided that E’s
reinforcers correspond to P’s values.

II. SS = f(aCr|sCv → max)

Corollary IIA: Knowledge of P’s satisfactoriness and abilities per-

mits inference of E’s ability requirements.

IIA. (SS,a) → r

Corollary IIB: Knowledge of P’s satisfactoriness and E’s ability

requirements permits inference of P’s abilities.

IIB. (SS,r) → a

Proposition III: P’s satisfaction is a function of the correspondence
of E’s reinforcers to P’s values, provided that P’s abilities correspond
to E’s ability requirements.

PERSON-ENVIRONMENT-CORRESPONDENCE THEORY 449