Vocational Psychology: Using One of Counseling Psychology's Strengths to Foster Human Strength

Abstract

At several points in the history of their field, counseling psychologists have emphasized that fostering human strengths is part of their mission. Vocational psychology is an area of counseling psychology that has focused consistently on human strengths. In keeping with the Major Contribution's theme, this article examines the following: (a) theoretical models and constructs of vocational development and processes; (b) empirical research on positive functioning in the vocational domain; (c) the actual and potential impact on research, practice, and training of vocational psychology's focus on positive human functioning; and (d) how vocational psychology fits within the person-environment interaction (PEX) framework, with particular attention given to expanding exploration and assessment of PEX's “person” component.