Which statement correctly identifies the core constructs of Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT)?

Which statement correctly identifies the core constructs of Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT)?

• A. Self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and goals influence career interests, choices, and performance.
• B. Self-concept congruence.
• C. Circumscription and compromise.
• D. Reliability and validity explain test usefulness.

Answer: (A)

Social Cognitive Career Theory centers on how your beliefs about your abilities, the likely outcomes of your actions, and your goals shape what you become interested in, the choices you make, and how well you perform. Self-efficacy is your belief that you can successfully perform tasks related to a career. Outcome expectations are what you think will happen as a result of taking certain actions—things you value or want to avoid. Goals are the plans and intentions that turn interests into concrete actions. When these three work together, they steer your career interests, guide the choices you pursue, and influence your performance, with experiences feeding back to adjust your beliefs and plans. Other choices refer to ideas from different theories or areas—self-concept congruence comes from Holland’s theory, circumscription and compromise from Gottfredson’s theory, and reliability and validity deal with assessing tests—none of which capture the SCCT trio of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and goals driving career development.

Social Cognitive Career Theory centers on how your beliefs about your abilities, the likely outcomes of your actions, and your goals shape what you become interested in, the choices you make, and how well you perform. Self-efficacy is your belief that you can successfully perform tasks related to a career. Outcome expectations are what you think will happen as a result of taking certain actions—things you value or want to avoid. Goals are the plans and intentions that turn interests into concrete actions. When these three work together, they steer your career interests, guide the choices you pursue, and influence your performance, with experiences feeding back to adjust your beliefs and plans. Other choices refer to ideas from different theories or areas—self-concept congruence comes from Holland’s theory, circumscription and compromise from Gottfredson’s theory, and reliability and validity deal with assessing tests—none of which capture the SCCT trio of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and goals driving career development.