Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dialogical self: author and narrator of career life themes

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This conceptual paper introduces the Theory of Dialogical Self to the career development literature. The life themes component of the Theory of Career Construction is the focus of application for dialogical self. It is proposed that the notion of dialogical self may contribute to understanding how individuals construct the career-related life themes. Dialogical self is thus presented as a promising theoretical construct to augment the explanatory capacity of the Theory of Career Construction and the constructivist, narrative approach to career theory in general. Implications for career counselling are presented.

Résumé. Le soi dialogique: auteur et narrateur des thèmes de vie lies à la carrière.

Cet article théorique insère la Théorie du Soi Dialogique dans la littérature du développement de carrière. C'est par rapport à la composante thèmes de vie de la Théorie de la Construction de Carrière que s'applique la pertinence du soi dialogique. On propose que la notion de soi dialogique peut contribuer à la compréhension de la manière dont les individus construisent les thèmes de vie en relation avec leur carrière. Le soi dialogique est ainsi présenté comme un construit théorique prometteur dans l'accroissement du potentiel explicatif de la Théorie de Construction de Carrière et l'approche constructiviste narrative de la théorie de la carrière en général. On présente les implications de cette réflexion pour le conseil de carrière.

Zusammenfassung. Das Dialogische Selbst: Autor und Erzähler von Themen des Berufslebens.

Dieser konzeptionelle Artikel führt die Theorie des Dialogischen Selbst in die Literatur der Berufsberatung ein. Im Mittelpunkt der Anwendung des Dialogischen Selbst steht der Aspekt der Lebensthemen aus dem Bereich der Theorie der Laufbahnkonstruktion. Es wird vorgeschlagen, dass die Kenntnis des Dialogischen Selbst einen Beitrag zum besseren Verständnis der Art und Weise liefern kann, wie Menschen ihre auf die berufliche Laufbahn bezogenen Lebensthemen konstruieren. In diesem Sinne wird das Dialogische Selbst als ein viel versprechendes theoretisches Konstrukt vorgestellt, das die Erklärungsleistung der Theorie der Laufbahnkonstruktion unterstreichen kann, und ebenso den Wert des Beitrags des narrativen Ansatzes zur Theorie der Berufsentscheidung im Allgemeinen. Es werden weiterhin Schlussfolgerungen für die berufliche Beratung vorgestellt.

Resumen. Teoría del Ser Dialógico: Autoría y Narración de Temas Vitales de la Carrera.

Este artículo de carácter conceptual introduce la Teoría del “Ser Dialógico” (Dialogical Self) en la literatura científica sobre el desarrollo de la carrera. El componente de los temas vitales en la Teoría de la Construcción de la Carrera es el foco de aplicación del “ser dialógico”. Se considera que el concepto de ser dialógico puede contribuir a la comprensión de cómo los individuos construyen sus temas vitales relacionados con la carrera. Se presenta así este concepto como un constructo teórico muy prometedor para aumentar la capacidad explicativa de la Teoría de la Construcción de la Carrera y del enfoque constructivista y narrativo del desarrollo de la carrera en general. Se presentan al final sus implicaciones para la orientación de la carrera.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bakhtin, M. (1973). Problems of Dostoevsky's poetics (R. W. Rotsel, Trans.). Ann Arbor, MI: Ardis (Original work published 1929).

  • Barresi, J. (2002). From ‘the thought is the thinker’ to ‘the voice is the speaker’. William James and the dialogical self. Theory & Psychology, 12(2), 237–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an experimental ecology of human development. American Psychologist, 32, 513–531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brott, P. (2001). The storied approach: A postmodern perspective for career counseling. The Career Development Quarterly, 49, 304–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruner, J. (1990). Acts of meaning. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buber, M. (1958). I and THOU (R. G. Smith, Trans., 2nd ed.). Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark (Original work published 1923).

  • Campbell, C., & Ungar, M. (2004). Constructing a life that works: Part 2, an approach to practice. The Career Development Quarterly, 53, 28–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, C. P. (2004). Positive compromise: A new perspective for career psychology. Australian Journal of Career Development, 13(2), 17–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cochran, L. (1997). Career counseling: A narrative approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gergen, K. J. (2001). Psychological science in a postmodern context. American Psychologist, 56(10), 803–813.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermans, H. J. M. (1996). Voicing the self: From information processing to dialogical interchange. Psychological Bulletin, 119(1), 31–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermans, H. J. M. (2001a). Conceptions of self and identity: Toward a dialogical view. International Journal of Education and Religion, 11(1), 43–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermans, H. J. M. (2001b). The construction of a personal position repertoire: Method and practice. Culture & Psychology, 7(3), 323–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermans, H. J. M. (2002a). The dialogical self as a society of mind: Introduction. Theory & Psychology, 12(2), 147–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermans, H. J. M. (2002b). The dialogical self: One person, different stories. In Y. Kashima, M. Foddy, & M. Platow (Eds.), Self and identity: Personal, social, and symbolic (pp. 71–99). Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

  • Hermans, H. J. M. (2003). The construction and reconstruction of a dialogical self. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 16, 89–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermans, H. J. M. (2006). Moving through three paradigms, yet remaining the same thinker. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 19(1), 5–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermans H. J. M., & Dimaggio G. (Eds.) (2004). The dialogical self in psychotherapy. Hove: Brunner-Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermans, H. J. M., & Hermans-Jansen, E. (1995). Self-narratives. The construction of meaning in psychotherapy. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermans, H. J. M., & Hermans-Jansen, E. (2004). The dialogical construction of coalitions in a personal position repertoire. In H. J. M. Hermans, & G. Dimaggio (Eds.), The dialogical self in psychotherapy (pp. 124–137). Hove: Brunner-Routledge.

  • Hermans, H. J. M., & Kempen, H. J. G. (1993). The dialogical self: Meaning as movement. San Diego: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermans, H. J. M., Kempen, H. J. G., & van Loon, R. J P. (1992). The dialogical self: Beyond individualism and rationalism. American Psychologist, 47(1), 23–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermans, H. J. M., Rijks, T. I., & Kempen, H. J. G. (1993). Imaginal dialogues in the self: Theory and method. Journal of Personality, 61(2), 207–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holland, J. L. (1985). Making vocational choices: A theory of vocational personalities and work environments (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inkson, K. (2007). Understanding careers: The metaphors of working lives. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, W. (1952). The principles of psychology. Chicago, IL: William Benton (Original work published 1890).

  • Lysaker, P. H., & Lysaker, J. T. (2002). Narrative structure in psychosis: Schizophrenia and disruptions in the dialogical self. Theory & Psychology, 12(3), 207–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAdams, D. P. (2006). The problem of narrative coherence. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 19(2), 109–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McIlveen, P. (2006). My Career Chapter: A Dialogical Autobiography. Unpublished manuscript.

  • McIlveen, P., Ford, T., & Dun, K. (2005). A narrative sentence-completion process for systems career assessment. Australian Journal of Career Development, 14(3), 30–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIlveen, P., McGregor-Bayne, H., Alcock, A., & Hjertum, E. (2003). Evaluation of a semi-structured career assessment interview derived from systems theory framework. Australian Journal of Career Development, 12, 33–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIlveen, P., & Patton, W. (2006). A critical reflection on career development. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 6, 15–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMahon, M. (2006). Working with storytellers: A metaphor for career counselling. In M. McMahon, & W. Patton (Eds.), Career counselling: Constructivist approaches (pp. 16–29). London: Routledge.

  • McMahon, M., Patton, W., & Watson, M. (2005). My system of career influences. Camberwell: Australian Council for Educational Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasupathi, M. (2001). The social construction of the personal past and its implications for adult development. Psychological Bulletin, 127(5), 651–672.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patton, W., & McMahon, M. (2006). Career development and systems theory: Connecting theory and practice. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savickas, M. (2001). Toward a comprehensive theory of career development: Dispositions, concerns, and narratives. In F. T. L. Leong, & A. Barak (Eds.), Contemporary models in vocational psychology: A volume in honor of Samuel H. Osipow (pp. 295–320). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

  • Savickas, M. (2002). Career construction: A developmental theory of vocational behavior. In D. A. Brown (Ed.), Career choice and development (4th ed., pp. 149–205). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

  • Savickas, M. (2005). The theory and practice of career construction. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Career development and counseling: Putting theory and research to work (pp. 42–70). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

  • Savickas M., & Lent R. W. (Eds.) (1994). Convergence in career development theories. Palo Alto: CPP Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultheiss, D. E. P. (2005). Qualitative relational career assessment: A constructivist paradigm. Journal of Career Assessment, 13(4), 381-394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van de Loo, R. (1992). Verheldering van loopbaanperspectief: Ontwikkeling en toepassing van een programme voor loopbaanorientatie op basis van de zelfkonfrontatiemethode [Clarification of career perspective: Development and application of a program for career orientation on the basis of the self-confrontation method] (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nijmegen) Van Gorcum, Assen: The Netherlands.

  • Young, R. A., & Valach, L. (2004). The construction of career through goal-directed action. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 64, 499–514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Services, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, 4350, Australia

    Peter McIlveen

  2. Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

    Wendy Patton

Authors
  1. Peter McIlveen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wendy Patton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter McIlveen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McIlveen, P., Patton, W. Dialogical self: author and narrator of career life themes. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 7, 67–80 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-007-9116-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-007-9116-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation