Action, in vocational psychology dictionary

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Dictionary of Vocational Psychology

Action

The central construct in the action theory of Young, Valach, and Collin (1996), action is intentional, goal-directed behavior, and is considered from three perspectives: manifest behavior, internal processes, and social meaning. Actions may be individual or joint; joint actions are taken by people together. The core of the theory "is the postulate of goal directed systems organisation in career, projects and action constructed from the subjective experiential, social attributional and systematic professional perspective" (Valach, Young, & Michel, 2003, p. 6). The theory falls into the general group of postmodern, constructivist theories of career development.

In practical terms, individuals are viewed as most effective and healthy when they take an active role in framing projects for themselves that require the organization of work and other activity so as to achieve valued goals. Advocates of action theory assert that this may not be so easy to accomplish today as it was in the past. That is because work is not as organized for most people within organizational hierarchies of goals; rather, it rests with the individual to organization their work activity into a meaningful hierarchy of valued goals. Valach, Young, and Michel (2003) point to trends in globalization, corporate layoffs, and the general and frequent disruption of the employment of large numbers of individuals as evidence of this trend away from traditional, organization-centered careers. They suggest various methods, including a narrative engagement with the client in which the client is encouraged to describe their vocational goals and how their work activity has fit into a pattern of action supporting those goals. In short, the counselor asks the client to tell his or her story.

References

Websites

Conference presentation on action theory. Counselling for vocational career and life projects: Action conceptualisation, by Valach, Young, and Michel (2003). PDF of a 2003 conference presentation.
http://www.svb-asosp.ch/kongress/data/docs/valach_01.pdf