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Making Vocational Choices: a Theory of Vocational Personalities and Work Environments (3rd edn) HOLLAND, J.L., 1997
Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources ISBN 0-911907-27-0 $29.95
Reviewed by Marcus Offer, Lecturer in Vocational Guidance, University of Reading John Holland can hardly be unknown to anyone in vocational guidance. This is the third edition of his definitive account of his system. One chapter is headed `Recent Notable Evidence (1985-1996)'. Others outline the theory, and draw out practical as well as theoretical implications.
`Vocational satisfaction, stability and achievement depend on the congruence between one's personality and the environment in which one works' is Holland's own summary. The basic sixcategory typology of people and occupations may seem simplistic, but the book illuminates the subtleties it can offer: for example, it `provides the possibility of 720 different personality patterns or repertoires for coping with that person's environment'. Few casual users realise the full implications of this public map of the world of work and workers, outlined in Chapters 1-4.
The two chapters of evidence for the theory, recounting one research result after another, are not literary masterpieces. They record the considerable supportive data relentlessly, including even insights such as: `In short, job searching activities (e.g. preparing a resume, talking to others about quitting, etc.) appear to be stimulated by job dissatisfaction.'(!)
Holland's ideas have spread worldwide-for example, the categories appear in numerous European computer-assisted guidance programs from this country (e.g. CAREERBUILDER) to the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Austria. Their origins are not always...