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
► Self
Efficacy 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, selfefficacy, 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 careerrelated 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?