ABSTRACT
The charge to suggest future directions for theory in vocational psychology is an exciting challenge. The backdrop to this challenge is manifold. In the first place, there is some consensus that the field of vocational psychology is a robust and vigorous one characterized by an impressive body of theory and research (Borgen, 1995; Heppner, Cassos, Carter, & Stone, 2000; Savickas, 1995). Yet, despite this record of success, there are repeated critiques of the field regarding such things as the split between theory and practice, the insularity of the field, the need to be more relevant to diverse groups, and the continuing challenge to integrate the practices of psychotherapy and career counseling, with many suggestions for future directions of the field that are responsive to these critiques (Betz, 2001; Blustein, 2001a; Blustein & Spengler, 1995; Collin, 1996a, 1996b; Fouad, 2001; Hackett, 1993; Richardson, 1996; Robitschek & DeBell, 2002; Savickas & Walsh, 1996). Furthermore, there has been an ongoing dialog regarding the implications of broader issues such as sociocultural change and new paradigms of intellectual inquiry for vocational psychology (Collin, 1997; Collin & Young, 1986, 2000; Richardson, 1993; Savickas, 1993, 1995, 2000). The plan for this chapter is to build on and to pursue these critiques and suggestions in order to develop an agenda or set of future directions for the field that hopefully will stimulate and encourage what might well be an emerging new stage in the history of vocational psychology.
