Life‐Span, Life‐Space Career Theory and Counseling

Life-span, life-space career theory and counseling focus on the content, process, and outcomes of career choice and development throughout the human life course. This chapter describes the historical background, core principles, practical applications, and research findings in support of life-span, life-space career theory and counseling. Life-span, life-space theory comprises a creative synthesis of ideas and evidence culled from seemingly disparate theories and lines of research assembled along three primary segments: the longitudinal or chronological, developmental life span; the latitudinal or contextual, psychosocial life space; and the self and self-concepts. As the life-span, life-space approach has ranked among the dominant theories of career choice and development for over 60 years, so too has it prompted a wealth of empirical research about its propositions and principles. Literature reviews have both supported and advanced self-concept as important in career development and career intervention.