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Emotional aspects of childhood career development: importance and future agenda

  • Íris M. Oliveira
  • Maria do Céu Taveira
  • Erik J. Porfeli
Article
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Abstract

Childhood is a central period for career and social-emotional development. However, the literature covering childhood career development and the role of emotions in careers is scarce. In this article, we advocate for the consideration of emotions in childhood career development. Emotional aspects of children’s career exploration, key-figures and interests, as well as of childhood antecedents of lifelong career processes are presented. Relations between childhood emotion, behavior, functioning and learning are also presented. Conclusions center on a call for focused study of the role of emotion in childhood career development and how such an agenda will advance the literature.

Keywords

Childhood career development Emotion Social-emotional development 

Résumé

Aspects émotionnels du développement de carrière dans l’enfance: Importance et agenda pour le futur. L’enfance est une période centrale pour le développement socio-émotionnel et de carrière. Cependant, la littérature couvrant le développement de carrière dans l’enfance et le rôle des émotions dans les carrières est rare. Dans cet article, nous défendons la prise en considération des émotions dans le développement de carrière dans l’enfance. Les aspects émotionnels de l’exploration de carrière des enfants, les figures-clés et les intérêts, ainsi que les antécédents des processus de carrière dans l’enfance sont présentés. Les relations entre les émotions dans l’enfance, le comportement, le fonctionnement et l’apprentissage sont également présentées. La pertinence de tenir compte des émotions pour faire progresser la littérature et la pratique du développement de carrière dans l’enfance est présentée.

Resumen

Aspectos emocionales del desarrollo profesional en la niñez: Importancia y futura agenda. La infancia es un periodo fundamental a considerar en la carrera y el desarrollo socioemocional. Sin embargo, la literatura existente basada en el desarrollo de la carrera en la niñez y el papel de las emociones en ella es escasa. En el presente artículo, abogamos por considerar el papel de las emociones en el desarrollo profesional durante la infancia. Para ello, se presentan los aspectos emocionales de la exploración de la carrera de los niños, figuras clave e intereses, así como los antecedentes de los procesos de carrera más tardíos en la vida. Se presentan también las relaciones existentes entre emoción, comportamiento, funcionamiento y el aprendizaje en esta etapa. Se discute la importancia de considerar la emoción con el propósito de producir avances en la literatura y en la práctica del desarrollo de la carrera infantil.

Zusammenfassung

Emotionale Aspekte der beruflichen Entwicklung in der Kindheit: Bedeutung und künftige Agenda. Die Kindheit ist ein zentraler Zeitraum für die berufliche sowie sozial-emotionale Entwicklung. Allerdings ist die Literatur, die, die berufliche Entwicklung in der Kindheit und die Rolle der Emotionen in der Karriere abdeckt, knapp. In diesem Artikel setzen wir uns für die Berücksichtigung von Emotionen in der beruflichen Entwicklung in der Kindheit ein. Es werden emotionale Aspekte der Erforschung der Karriere von Kindern, deren Schlüsselzahlen und Interessen vorgestellt, sowie, der Einfluss, von Karriereprozessen in der Kindheit, im späteren Leben. Die Beziehungen zwischen den Emotionen der Kindheit, dem Verhalten, dem Fungieren und dem Lernen werden ebenfalls vorgestellt. Es wird desweiteren, die Relevanz der Emotion um die Literatur und die Praxis der beruflichen Entwicklung in der Kindheit voranzutreiben, diskutiert.

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Notes

Acknowledgments

The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology supported POPH/FSE and European Union funded this work through a Doctoral Grant (SFRH/BD/84162/2012).

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • Íris M. Oliveira
    • 1
  • Maria do Céu Taveira
    • 1
  • Erik J. Porfeli
    • 2
  1. 1.School of PsychologyUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
  2. 2.College of MedicineNortheast Ohio Medical UniversityRootstownUSA

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