Beyond individual differences: The role of differentiation of self in predicting the career exploration of college students
Open Access
Author:
Keller, Brian David
Graduate Program:
Counseling Psychology
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
August 29, 2006
Committee Members:
Elizabeth A Skowron, Committee Chair/Co-Chair Jeffrey Hayes, Committee Member Spencer G Niles, Committee Member Robert D Reason, Committee Member
Keywords:
career exploration differentiation of self ego identity status Super theory Bowen theory
Abstract:
This study sought to test Super’s (1957) assertion that individual and environmental variables interact to shape one’s career development. Marcia’s (1966) theoretical ego identity statuses (achieved, moratorium, foreclosed, and diffuse) and the Bowen family systems theory (1976, 1978) construct of differentiation of self (emotional reactivity, emotional cutoff, fusion with others, and ability to take an I-position) were used to operationalize the individual and environmental variables respectively, and served as the independent variables in a hierarchical multiple regression analysis to predict amount of career exploration. It was hypothesized that differentiation of self would account for a significant amount of variance in general career exploration above and beyond ego identity status in a vocational clinical sample of 139 university students. Results supported this hypothesis, indicating that differentiation of self explained a statistically significant amount of variability in career exploration after accounting for ego identity status. Specifically, in the full model, an achieved ego identity status and more of an ability to take an I-position in relationships were uniquely predictive of higher amounts of career exploration. Unexpectedly, results also indicated that increased amounts of emotional reactivity were also associated with higher levels of career exploration. Implications for theory and practice, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
