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A Critical Reflection on Career Development

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Abstract

The science and professional practices of vocational psychology and career development are brought into question via a critical polemic informed by the work of Foucault, with a particular focus on the application of theory and techniques of objective assessment and psychometrics. It is asserted that the scientific and professional discourse and constructs of traditional approaches to career development have been reified. The context of this discourse is discussed with respect to the risk that career development scientists and practitioners have become unwitting or complicit instruments of a broader economic and political discourse. Their alignment with the client is ultimately questioned.

Resumé. Une réflexion critique sur le développement de carrière

La science et les pratiques professionnelles de la psychologie vocationnelle et du développement de carrière sont mises en question via une polémique critique nourrie par l’œuvre de Foucault, avec un accent particulier sur l’application de la théorie et des techniques d’évaluation objective ainsi que de la psychométrie. L’argument est que l’on a réifié les discours scientifique et professionnel, ainsi que les construits des approches traditionnelles du développement de carrière. Le contexte de ce discours est discuté par rapport au risque que les scientifiques et les praticiens soient devenus les instruments accidentels ou complices d’un discours économique et politique plus large. Enfin, on questionne leur alignement sur le client.

Zussamenfassung. Eine kritische Betrachtung der Beruflichen Beratung

In einer kritischen Polemik, basierend auf den Arbeiten von Foucault, werden die wissenschaftlichen Grundlagen und die professionelle Praxis der Beruflichen Beratung in Frage gestellt, und zwar mit einem besonderen Augenmerk auf die Anwendung der Theorie und Praxis des Objektiven Assessments und der Psychometrie. Es wird behauptet, der wissenschaftliche und professionelle Diskurs und die Konstrukte traditioneller Ansätze der Beruflichen Beratung seien verdinglicht worden. Der Kontext dieses Diskurses wird unter Berücksichtigung der Möglichkeit betrachtet, dass Wissenschaftler und Praktiker auf dem Gebiet der Beruflichen Beratung unwissentliche oder auch mitwirkende Instrumente eines breiteren ökonomischen und politischen Kurswechsels geworden sind. Deren Ausrichtung am Klienten wird letztendlich bezweifelt.

Resumen. Reflexión crítica en torno al Desarrollo de la Carrera

A través de una polémica crítica fundamentada en el trabajo de Foucault, se ponen en cuestionamiento la ciencia y la práctica profesional de la psicología vocacional y del desarrollo de la carrera, haciendo especial hincapié en la aplicación de la teoría y técnicas de la evaluación objetiva y la psicometría. Se afirma que, tanto el discurso científico y profesional como los constructos de los enfoques tradicionales del desarrollo de la carrera han sido reificados. El contexto de este discurso se presenta en relación al riesgo que corren los profesionales del desarrollo de la carrera de volverse instrumentos cómplices, de manera inconsciente, del discurso económico y político. Se cuestiona, por último, su alianza con el cliente.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Southern Queensland, Student Services, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia

    Peter McIlveen

  2. Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

    Wendy Patton

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  1. Peter McIlveen
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  2. Wendy Patton
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Correspondence to Peter McIlveen.

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October 2005; Accepted: January 2006

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McIlveen, P., Patton, W. A Critical Reflection on Career Development. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 6, 15–27 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-006-0005-1

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