Holland's Theory of Vocational Personalities and Work Environments

Dulin W. Clark & Jack R. Rayman

The origin of John L. Holland's theory of vocational personalities can be traced back to his 1966 publication Psychology of Vocational Choice , which was followed by four subsequent editions of Making Vocational Choices . With each edition, Holland built a more comprehensive theory of career counseling and tackled new issues arising from the complex relationship between human personality and suitable work environments. The theory is formulated around the fundamental observation that people possess different traits, behaviors, and interests that can be organized according to six groupings or types. The six types are called Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional (RIASEC), each of which characterizes a type of person who may gravitate to, choose, and enjoy a specific occupation or vocational area. In career counseling circles, it is common to hear a counselor refer to a Social or Investigative type person as a shortcut to describe someone who possesses ...

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