Insights of Chapter Three

Through learning all of the new theories, Krumboltz’s Social Learning Theory stuck out to me in this chapter. This theory is based off of the social learning theory proposed by Bandura. I agree that the emphasis should not be placed on interests and traits when dealing with career choice. They can certainly be a factor in choosing a career but they should not be emphasized as heavily as the trait-and-factor theories propose.

Krumboltz distinguishes four factors that influence career decision-making: genetic endowment and specific abilities, environmental conditions and events, learning experiences, and task approach skills (Brown, 2012). The genetic endowment and specific abilities focuses on inherited characteristics. Krumboltz recognizes that these characteristics can be restrictive but I think that my inherited characteristics are not obstructive. My inherited traits have not let me down so far. I have had high intelligence, which I received from both parents. I do lack artistic abilities but I have not had any severe implications from that. Environmental conditions and events seem to lie under the term “everything happens for a reason.” The events that occur are out of an individual’s control like job opportunities and changes in regulations. I have experienced both negative and positive results from these events in regards to my career development process. I have gotten an opportunity that came out of the blue and I have also been slowed down with regulations. Many of these regulations stem from learning experiences, which are the next factor, that influences career decision-making. When picking my career path, I based it off my educational experiences. My instrumental learning experiences were from my college courses and that choices I made when making my schedule for each semester. My associative learning experiences were during my shadowing periods where I observed an individual in my potential career. Both of these experiences lead me to my ultimate decision of becoming a therapist. The last factor Krumbotz talks about is task approach skills. These skills are used specifically for a new task or problem such as attending and performance standards (Brown, 2012).  I think this goes hand in hand with adapting to the environment. New skills are learned every day to combat a new task. An individual should adapt and use whatever skill is necessary to fulfill the duty.

I think Krumbotlz’s Social Learning Theory is a mixture of nature and nurture, instead of placing them in separate categories; he puts them together cohesively to see how they influence career decision making. A person is born with certain traits and then adapts to the environment around them. They learn from their own experiences as well as watching others. This theory can be used with any type of client who seeks out help in career development.

Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development (10^th ed.). New York: Pearson.