Positive psychology and career development

Robertson, Peter J.

Abstract

Positive psychology has been an influential movement within psychology in the early years of the 21st century. It is now timely to assess the value of its contribution to career education and guidance. This paper provides a critique of this perspective. Positive psychology can enrich approaches to career development. It can provide a fertile source of concepts and an empirical basis for some elements of practice. However the application of approaches derived from positive psychology is problematic if it neglects the socioeconomic context in which careers are lived and experienced, or if claims are made for its efficacy cannot be supported by the evidence base.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 9, 2017
• Online Publication Date: May 31, 2017
• Publication Date: 2018
• Deposit Date: Apr 13, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 1, 2018
• Journal: British Journal of Guidance and Counselling
• Print ISSN: 0306-9885
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-3534
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 241-254
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2017.1318433
• Keywords: Career development; positive psychology; well-being
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/828027
• Contract Date: Apr 13, 2017