Chapter 4: Gottfredson’S Theory of Career Circumscription

Career choice is an incredibly complex process to navigate- just ask a college student, career changer, or displaced worker. Harder still is to apply the scientific method (describe, explain, predict, control) to the process of career decision-making that has both broad application and personal, individual relevance. In this chapter, we describe a model of career choice that accommodates a broad number of factors and, in addition, interfaces nicely with other career models to increase its application. First, we give a broad overview of Linda Gottfredson’s theory of Circumscription and Compromise (1981, 2005) and then highlight the characteristics that distinguish her model from others. Next, we briefly discuss a few career theories that relate to Circumscription and Compromise, followed by practical application of the model. We use a case study to further elucidate the process of applying the theory, and finally, highlight some of the limitations of the theory and its potential for practical use in a clinical setting.