CHAPTER 14
SOCIAL COGNITIVE CAREER THEORY
Based on Bandura’s social learning theory and triadic reciprocal interaction system.
Similarities to Krumboltz’s Social Learning Theory
• Both emphasize triadic reciprocal interaction system (focusing on environment,
personal factors, and behaviors).
Dissimilarities
• Social Cognitive Career Theory focuses on cognitive processes (such as self-efficacy) that
regulate and moderate actions.
SELF-EFFICACY
• People’s judgments of their capabilities to organize and execute courses of action
required to attain designated types of performances.
• People with low self-efficacy cannot perform as well on a task.
OUTCOME EXPECTATIONS
• When individuals estimate what the probability of an outcome would be.
GOALS
• Set goals that help to organize their behavior and to guide their actions over
various periods of time.
CONTEXTUAL FACTORS: BARRIERS AND SUPPORTS
• Background contextual factors – occur as individuals learn about and interact
with their cultures.
THE SOCIAL COGNITIVE MODEL OF CAREER CHOICE
Complex; involves interactions between self-efficacy, outcome expectations, goals, choice,
outcome, and environmental factors.
Circular – concepts indirectly or directly affect each other and continue to do so
throughout most of the life span (See diagrams pp. 381-382)
• Self-efficacy…1…Interest
• Outcome Expectations…2…Interest
Interests that are likely to persist across time arise from activities
that people feel they are effective in completing and in succeeding in
achieve the goals
• Choice Actions…5…Performance Outcomes
The actions that people take greatly affect the outcome of their
performance
• Performance Outcomes…6…Learning Experiences…7…Self-
Efficacy/Outcome Expectations
Ways of Dealing with Barriers and Ways to Build Supports
Barriers
Identify possible barrier to achieving career goals.
Then examine the likelihood that client will have to deal with barriers.
Develop strategies for dealing with barriers if they occur.
SOCIAL COGNITIVE MODEL OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERESTS
Very similar to the model of career choice.
Major difference is that the focus is on interest rather than on career choice.
SOCIAL COGNITIVE MODEL OF PERFORMANCE
One’s performance will affect one’s ability, which again will affect one’s self-efficacy and
outcome expectations.
SOCIAL COGNITIVE MODEL OF WORK AND LIFE SATISFACTION
SCCT extends the model to be able to predict satisfaction with one’s current work as well as
a more general measure of satisfaction with life.
THE ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION
Non-biased, accurate, career information important for all people.
THE ROLE OF ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS
Assessment information helpful to clients to use in making career decisions.
Counselor uses assessment information to support clients’ self-efficacy beliefs.
APPLYING SOCIAL COGNITIVE CAREER THEORY TO WOMEN
Studies show occupational self-efficacy predicts interests and career choice.
Women scored lower on occupational self-efficacy for non-traditional occupations and higher
for traditionally female occupations.
APPLYING SOCIAL COGNITIVE THEORY TO CULTURALLY DIVERSE POPULATIONS
Support from the theory with Chinese, Italian, Greek, Korean, Latino and Latina, Japanese,
Native Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans
COUNSELOR ISSUES
Important for counselors to be aware of their own social biases.