1.Selective attention. People normally attend to information
about the accessibility of occupations they deem suitable for them-
selves and the alternatives within their perceived social space. The
more preferred the occupation, the more likely an individual is to
attend to information about it.
2.Need to implement as spur to action. People attend to infor-
mation primarily when they must begin to implement an occupa-
tional aspiration. The closer the time of implementation (say, the
nearer graduation) or the more serious the commitment (choosing
a job versus a college major), the more realistic idealistic aspirations
become.
3.Ease and proximity of search. People actively seek information
and guidance on where to get it primarily from sources that are con-
venient and trusted. Parents, friends, teachers, colleagues, and oth-
ers in one’s social network thus play a key role in shaping our
perceptions of accessibility as well as our perceptions of suitability.
Economy of search thus tends to promote stability rather than
change in one’s social space.
Degrees of Compromise. Compromises can range from minor to
wrenching. They are not especially difficult when they involve
highly acceptable alternatives. Indeed, because they involve the
“balancing” or “trading off ” of different values and interests in order
to identify one’s best overall option, they are viewed more as
choices than compromises. Figure 4.4 illustrates this point (ignore
the three curves for now). Degree of compromise (deviation from
the ideal) can range from low to high for one or more of the three
dimensions of compatibility. The greater the compromise, the
higher the level of concern over it.
Compromises become more difficult and seem less voluntary as
one depletes the more acceptable alternatives within one’s social
space. They can be very painful when the choice is among alterna-
tives that the individual deems unacceptable, that is, outside the
person’s social space. Although a choice among acceptable alterna-
102 CAREER CHOICE AND DEVELOPMENT