Social-Cognitive

Career Theory
PSY 714
Spring 2007
Instructor: Emily E. Bullock, Ph.D.
 Social Cognitive
Career Theory (SCCT)
► SSCT attempts to provide explanation of
how people…
1. Develop vocational interests
2. Make and remake occupational choices
3. Achieve varying levels of career success and
stability
 Social Cognitive Career Theory
► SelfEfficacy Beliefs
► Outcome Expectations
► Personal Goals
 Social Cognitive Career Theory
► Three models of SCCT:
 Interest model
 Choice model
 Performance model
 Social Cognitive Career Theory
► Interest Model
 Interest develops when people…
►View themselves as competent in the activity
(self efficacy)
►Anticipate that performing it will produce valued
outcomes (outcome expectations)
 Development of interest increases the likelihood
of goal development (personal goals) and
practice
 Role of abilities and values
 Role of personal variables
 Social Cognitive Career Theory
► Choice Model
 Goals motivate efforts to implement a goal
(choice actions) which are followed by a
pattern of performance success and failures
 Likelihood of interest translating into goals and
goals to actions is effected by…
►Level of environmental support
►Barriers in relation to their preferred career path
 Social Cognitive Career Theory
► Performance Model
 Assumption: competent performers will be
persist and be allowed to persist by the
environment
 Performance is the interplay of ability, self-
efficacy, outcome expectations, and
performance goals
 SSCT: Considering Practice
► Interventions based in the sources of Self-
efficacy
► Career information fosters more realistic
outcome expectations
► Assessment results are “snapshots” at a
point in time
 SSCT: Considering Practice
► Expanding Choice Options
► Coping with Barriers and Building Supports
► Goal Setting and implementation
► Increasing work satisfaction
► Facilitating work performance
 SSCT: Considering Practice
► How would SCCT explain or work with the
following issues?
 Your client has never engaged in a particular career-
related activity
 Your client has never heard of someone like them that
does a particular job

► Evaluating SCCT
 How is it different and/or similar to other theories?
 How might you see using SCCT in your work with client?