Order and chaos: a twenty-first century formulation of careers

Abstract

A chaos theory of career choice and development is outlined. Traditional trait-factor theories of career choice and development overlook too many pertinent influences on career decision-making, such as change and chance events. As a consequence these reductionist approaches fail to adequately capture some of the most salient influences on an individual's career decisions. More recent systems theory approaches better acknowledge the complex array of influences and the recursive nature of many of those influences. These models have been useful in providing taxonomy of influences that have frequently been overlooked. Developing from such models the chaos theory of careers is outlined. The chaos theoretical approach to career decision-making builds upon this identified complex array of influences. It provides a framework for understanding why career trajectories are not exactly repeatable, how relatively minor changes in subtle variables can lead to major changes in career path and how realist and constructivist approaches to career decisionmaking may be reconciled within a unitary framework. Some of the objections to systems theory approaches are canvassed along with some implications of the chaos theory of careers.

Narrative career counselling: Theory and exemplars of practice

“…Change is inherent to the STF. The STF captures the unpredictability of career influences which has been formulated as a source of naturally occurring chaos for a person's career (e.g., Bloch, 2005;Pryor & Bright, 2003).…”

Valuing complex and diverse career pathways: the career trajectories and career-related choices of early career practitioners

“…According to the CTC, reality is conceptualised in terms of complex dynamical systems characterised by "complexity, interconnection and susceptibility to change" (Pryor & Bright 2011, p.31). This theory proposes that individuals developing their careers are themselves complex dynamical systems, comprised of interrelating subsystems that together form a subsystem of other dynamical systems (Pryor & Bright 2003a). Over time, distinct patterns emerge in career trajectories, even though the factors that influence career trajectories, and their effects, may at first appear random.…”

“…Gibb (1998) Pryor & Bright 2003a, 2003band Pryor, Amundson & Bright 2008). The following section outlines elements of this theory, empirical research associated with CTC, and some of the limitations and advantages of this approach.…”

“…which was based on the CTC, and found that students reported feeling more comfortable with the uncertainty that is characteristic of modern career trajectories as a result of completing EPSA tasks. Pryor andBright's work (see, for example, Bright &Pryor 2005 andand Pryor & Bright 2003a, 2003b is useful for this study since it offers a conceptualisation of career development from the standpoint of chaos theory, and a platform from which to explore the extent to which individuals and the broader society, including policy makers, for instance, can influence career trajectories. This study differs from Pryor and Bright's research to date in its use of chaos theory to explore and analyse detailed retrospective accounts of individuals' career trajectories, and in its specific focus on ECPs and employees of Queensland's NGMHS.…”

“…Chapter Two highlighted the extent to which other career dialects, including trait-factor, developmental and behavioural approaches, focus on outcomes as opposed to processes (McKay, Bright & Pryor 2005) and generally fail to adequately capture the complexity of career trajectories (Block 2005;and Savickas 1996), to account for the fast-changing modern contexts in which career trajectories occur (Cabral & Salomone 1990;Bright & Pryor 2007;and Strunk 2009), and to address the potential influences of unpredictable factors and chance events (Cabral & Salomone 1990;Pryor & Bright 2003a;and Savickas et al 2009). In conjunction with increasing recognition of the limitations of traditional career theories, Strunk (2009, p.295) notes that phrases associated with chaos theory, such as "instability", "unpredictability" and "complexity" abound in the work and career literature.…”