Relationship between the identity formation process and career development.

Abstract

We proposed on the basis of a review of the ego identity and career development literatures that variability in career exploration and occupational commitment might be related to characteristic differences in the manner by which individuals explore and commit to their ego identity in late adolescence. To test propositions about the relations between career development and identity formation, measures of ego identity status, exploratory activity, and occupational commitment were administered to 99 college students. A canonical analysis was conducted, which yielded two significant canonical roots. The first root, which accounted for 35% of the variance between canonical composites, indicated that occupational commitment is inversely related to the moratorium status. The second root, which accounted for 11% of the variance, suggested that career exploration is positively associated with the moratorium and identity-achieved statuses and inversely related to the diffusion status. The results are related to future directions in theory, research, and practice.

Psychological Separation and Dimensions of Career Indecision in Secondary School Students

“…In this way, the attempt to integrate two dimensions of human development, career development and identity development, is reinforced. This effort is patent in the theoretical proposals and empirical research of Blustein and colleagues (Blustein, Devenis, & Kidney, 1989;Blustein & Noumair, 1996;Blustein & Phillips, 1990) and Vondracek and colleagues (Skorikov & Vondracek, 1998;Vondracek, 1992;Vondracek, Schulenberg, Skorikov, Gillespie, & Wahlheim, 1995). Therefore, the limitations that have been pointed out in the research on career indecision, and which are basically related to the absence of a solid theoretical framework in many of the studies (Hall, 1992;Tinsley, 1992), can be overcome by the integration of this construct in a broader conceptual approach, as some authors have claimed (Chartrand et al, 1994).…”

Exploration of Factors Related to Development of Vocational Identity in Collegiate Student Athletes

“…Blustein, Devenis, and Kidney (1989) found that career exploration and occupational engagement provide opportunities for students to learn more about themselves and further develop their identity. In Ihle-Helledy's (2003) interviews with studentathletes, participants reported a simple benefit of being asked questions about their career development process--forcing them to think about themselves more deeply.…”

Career-specific parental behaviors, career exploration and career adaptability: A three-wave investigation among Chinese undergraduates

“…First of all, career exploration promotes the search for valuable information related to self-appraisal or adjustment to different jobs and occupations (Blustein, 1992(Blustein, , 1997Super & Hall, 1978), which yields useful insights that advance a person to a gratifying career choice, therefore career exploration is likely to promote students' strength in exploring various situations and potential roles (career curiosity). As previous research has showed that career exploration correlates positively with future-oriented mental process, such as goal-directedness (Blustein, 1989), personal growth initiative (Robitschek & Cook, 1999) and the formation of ego identity (Blustein, Devenis, & Kidney, 1989), we thus propose that by collecting and processing relevant information, career exploration also motivates individuals to seriously consider their future career possibilities and prepare for these possibilities (career concern). …”