The Case of K
A culture-centered intervention consistent with Holland’s theory
would begin with a discussion of K’s strengths and assets, lifestyle
considerations, culture and gender issues, and social constraints and
barriers. Such information can be garnered indirectly through a few
open-ended leads: “Can you tell me about your family background”
or “How do your culture and or religion affect your choices?” We
would also supplement this information with several additional
sources in consultation with K—perhaps with a decisional diag-
nostic inventory such as the Career Attitudes and Strategies Inven-
tory (CASI; Holland & Gottfredson, 1994), the Career Factors
Inventory (CFI; Chartrand, Robbins, Morrill, & Boggs (1990), or
the Career Beliefs Inventory (CBI; Krumboltz, 1991). A decision
status inventory would provide additional insight into the genesis
and nature of indecision in both of these cases, especially on the
degree of anxiety present.
Next, we would use not only a homogeneous inventory such as
the SDS but a criterion-based inventory such as the SII or the
Campbell Interest and Skills Inventory. This information permits a
thorough examination of contradictions between expressed and
measured interests (Spokane & Decker, 1999), as well as motiva-
tional insights (Silva, in press). In both of these cases, ability ap-
pears to be substantial, but some assessment of specific abilities (for
example, mechanical aptitude) might be useful in K’s case, as well
as a thoughtful examination of his relationship with his family, their
views about acceptable careers, and the extent of pressure or influ-
ence being applied.
In particular, we would explore the apparent contradiction be-
tween K’s stated values of belonging and financial prosperity with
his repertoire of self-defeating behaviors (for example, skateboard-
ing as only stated interest). The addition of one or more criterion-
based inventories such as the SII, CISS, or Kuder would help us
evaluate the apparent contradictions between K’s Artistic day-
dreams and his CRI Holland code. This would clarify the “leading
edge” of his interests (Spokane & Decker, 1999). A Card Sort
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