3. Three principles make up this theory:
• individuals fit into 6 types that represent distinct interests and values
• environments can be divided into six categories that are similar to the
types that describe people
• people seek out environments that complement their type or subtype
4. Holland’s Theory of Person-Environment
Interactions
• Most persons can be categorized as one of six types:
• Realistic
• Investigative
• Artistic
• Social
• Enterprising
• Conventional
5. • There are six environments:
• Realistic
• Investigative
• Artistic
• Social
• Enterprising
• Conventional
6. • People search for environments that will let them use their skills and
abilities, express their attitudes and values, and take on agreeable
problems and roles.
• A person’s behavior is determined by an interaction between his or
her personality and the characteristics of his or her environment.
7. The Realistic Type
• Conforming
• Humble
• Frank
• Materialistic
• Persistent
• Genuine
• Practical
• Hardheaded
• Shy
• Honest
• Thrifty
13. The Realistic Environment
• Requires explicit, ordered, or systematic manipulation of objects,
tools, machines, or animals
• Encourages people to view themselves as having mechanical ability
• Rewards people for displaying conventional values and encourages
them to see the world in simple, tangible, and traditional terms
14. The Investigative Environment
• Requires the symbolic, systematic, and creative investigation of
physical, biological or cultural phenomena
• Encourages scientific competencies and achievements and seeing the
world in complex and unconventional ways
• Rewards people for displaying scientific values
15. The Artistic Environment
• Requires participation in ambiguous, free, and unsystematized
activities to create art forms or products
• Encourages people to view themselves as having artistic abilities and
to see themselves as expressive, nonconforming, independent, and
intuitive
• Rewards people for the display of artistic values
16. The Social Environment
• Requires participation in activities that inform, train, develop, cure, or
enlighten
• Requires people to see themselves as liking to help others, as being
understanding of others, and of seeing the world in flexible ways
• Rewards people for the display of social values
17. The Enterprising Environment
• Requires participation in activities that involve the manipulation of
others to attain organizational and self-interest goals
• Requires people to view themselves as aggressive, popular, self-
confident, and sociable
• Encourages people to view the world in terms of power and status
• Rewards people for displaying enterprising goals and values
18. The Conventional Environment
• Requires participation in activities that involve the explicit, ordered,
or systematic manipulation of data
• Requires people to view themselves as conforming, orderly,
nonartistic, and as having clerical competencies
• Rewards people for viewing the world in stereotyped and
conventional ways
19. Key Terms in Holland’s Theory
• Differentiation - the degree of difference between a person’s
resemblance to one type and to other types; the shape of a profile of
interests
• Congruence - the degree of fit between an individual’s personality
type and current or prospective work environment
• Consistency - degree of relatedness between types
• Vocational identity - possession of a clear and stable picture of one’s
goals, interests, and talent
20. Applying Holland’s Theory
• Types (RIASEC) can be used to organize curriculum, career fairs, and
information about occupations, jobs, and majors
• Use assessment instruments used to measure congruence,
differentiation, consistency, and vocational identity:
• Self-Directed Search
• Vocational Preference Inventory
• My Vocational Situation
22. PEC Theory
• PEC Theory is the generalized version of the Theory of Work Adjustment
(TWA)
• Basic Premise:
• Individuals seek to achieve and maintain a positive relationship with their
work environment
• P = person
• E = environment
23. PEC Theory
• Dawis and Lofquist
• P-E correspondence
• Stability
• Work adjustment
• 4 Key points of Dawis and Lofquist's theory
• Work and personality fit
• Impact of individual needs
• Connection of individual needs and reinforcer systems
• Job placement
• Personality Structure
• Abilities and values
• If their work environment satisfy their values, the more likely they find the job satisfying.
24. PEC Theory
• P-E incongruence requires adjustment to maintain a positive
equilibrium between the two
• 4 adjustment style variations
• Flexibility
• Activeness
• Reactiveness
• Perseverance
25. PEC Theory
• Implications
• Evaluate job satisfaction
• Link between satisfaction and work adjustment
• Link between satisfaction and tenure
• Assess needs and values
• Determine reinforcers
• Help person find a work environment that matches needs, values, and
provides the correct reinforcers
26. Applying PEC in your lessons
Create a classroom environment that matches the needs and values of students
Come up with a proper reward system in class
• Come up with activities that your students find satisfying because of
the value it represents
• Teamwork – group games
• Self expression- debates or insight papers
• Communication – games that involve interacting with others
