Career Psychology in South Africa

Study Notes

The lecture discusses the emergence of career psychology in South Africa from a socio-historical perspective.
The prescribed reading is Nicholas, Naidoo & Pretorius (2006).
Additional material includes a TED Talk video: "The Psychology of Careers" by Sharon Belden Castonguay (link provided).

Career psychology in South Africa is rooted in mainstream (European and American) and vocational (American) psychology.
Initially, career psychology was linked to capitalist economic systems in Europe (pre-industrial revolution).
Later, the focus shifted to social reform and humanitarianism in the USA, leading to a focus on the needs of exploited workers.

Traditional career psychology focused on choosing a vocation.
A 3-step model for career counselling (as outlined in Parsons 1909) forms the basis of trait factor theory and guidance:
- Understanding worker's self (aptitudes, abilities, interests, resources, limitations)
- Understanding different lines of work (tasks, requirements, advantages, disadvantages, pay, opportunities)
- Person-job fit (matching individual traits to work specifications).

Parsons's conceptual framework generated national interest in career guidance.
His framework supported helping workers choose jobs matching their abilities and interests.
He provided guidance to school leavers to find suitable employment.
Parsons’s work contributed to the theory development of trait and factor theory.
His work emphasized differential psychology and the importance of identifying personality traits.

Intelligence tests
Vocational tests
Aptitude tests
Personality inventories were (and are) used for various assessment purposes including career assessments, selection, placement, guidance at school, industry and the military.

The TED Talk video by Sharon Belden Castonguay provides additional insights into the psychology of careers.

What led to the choice of the current course of study and how did you decide it was the right fit?
How can career counselors better understand their clients during career counseling?
What should career counselors consider about people when helping them make career decisions?

Early career guidance movement focused on reforms in education to counter worker exploitation.
Parsons's framework emphasized career counseling/guidance.
Differential psychology assesses personality traits through measurement.
Psychometrics developed personality inventories, intelligence, and aptitude tests.

Early seminal influences (1760-1840): Industrial Revolution, immigration, diamond discovery, technological advancements, altering the nature of work.
Job Reservation in Apartheid Era (1940s): Large-scale engineering to protect interests of European settlers; privilege and social policies limited career opportunities.
Education used as a gatekeeping tool to regulate career development; racism entrenched in education system i.e. native education.
Post-1994 Policy and Legislation Context: career guidance advice services introduced, NGOs playing vital roles.

Role of career guidance during apartheid.
Involvement of NGOs and their contribution to the fight against apartheid.
Reasons for new policies and legislation after 1994.
Current social challenges for career psychology in South Africa and the impact of old laws.

How was career psychology used to exclude people from the job market in apartheid South Africa?
How do career psychology practitioners engage in career interventions today?