we present via a case study. In this edition, two cases are presented.
One of the clients, “E,” is a white European female; the other is “K,”
an Asian American male. These case studies can be found in Chap-
ter Two. Readers may wish to read these cases prior to reading the
suggestions advanced by the authors operating from various theo-
retical perspectives.
Finally, one of the most difficult decisions for the editor is how to
best organize the book. In this edition, three dynamic trait-and-fac-
tor theories are included in the first section, two learning theories in
the second section, and two theories rooted in social constructionism
in the third section; two chapters devoted to more than one theory
can be found in the fourth chapter. These chapters are devoted to
developmental theories of career development and to sociological
explanations of occupational choice and attainment. It would be easy
to infer that there is some status associated with the ordering of the
chapter. This is not the case. Holland’s theory, as already noted, is
extremely important, both from the standpoint of research and prac-
tice. However, the cognitive theories included in the second section
are generating a great deal of interest among practitioners and
researchers alike. Moreover, since the early 1950s when Ginzberg et
al. (1951) and Super (1953) set forth their theories, there has been a
substantial amount of interest in developmental theory. Although
many of the users of this book will be counselors and psychologists, the
sociological theory chapter contains information that is not found in
the psychological theory chapters—information that deserves the
attention of practitioners and researchers alike. In the final analysis,
the order of presentation used here is arbitrary.
Summary
Theorizing about career choice and development dates back to the
turn of the twentieth century, and the interest in the area has grown
steadily over that time period. Although more than a dozen theo-
ries have emerged over time, few have stood the test of time, which
is the ultimate gauge of a theory’s worth. Currently, three or four
18 CAREER CHOICE AND DEVELOPMENT