The career development 'isms'

Earlier this year I was reading a couple of Tristram Hooley papers (Hooley et al., 2018; Hooley & Sultana, 2016) which talked about developmental theory. And I realised, as I was reading, that I didn't know for sure what developmental theory really was, and that I should probably get a bit of a crisper idea. 

But wait; there's more. Apparently the career development field has a trinity of 'isms': developmentalism, hermeneutics, and humanism (Hooley et al., 2018, p. 64). I am assuming that these three are related. Is developmental theory the same as hermeneutics? As I understand it, developmental theory may be a way of being - an ontology - whereas hermeneutics seem a way of analysing or studying our world; an epistemology, or how we come to knowing. 

I decided to pull together a rough definition for each to begin my exploration into these three 'isms':

• Developmentalism: a "'developmentalist' model [...arises] from liberal psychology—and [...] Carl Rogers [...aiming] to facilitate self-exploration and self-construction" as per Savickas (Hooley et al., 2018, p. 64). A developmental approach is where we develop ourselves and others: that work is not about efficiency, but about what we can become through our co-creation (Hooley et al., 2018). Development as a field fits with "interpretive, constructivist and narrative approaches", or epistemologies (p. 64); but not the trait and factor models of Parsons (1909). OK: so developmentalism seems like an ontology to me: a way of being. The top of the tree. It is our core state: our turangawaewae... the place where we stand.

• Humanism: where we "develop and express [our] potential"; "how [we] can proactively transform [our] careers to develop personally meaningful identities" (Greenhaus & Callanan, 2006, p. 47). Theorists such as Hall, Maslow and Field are considered humanists (Greenhaus & Callanan, 2006). I think that seems another big picture way of being. Another ontology, I think.

• Hermeneutics (-ism!): "The study of interpretation theory, as in interpreting the meaning of certain texts" (Holosko & Thyer, 2011, p. 50). Damn: that's as clear as mud. Looking further, hermeneutics seems to derive from the Greek god Hermes - related by Socrates - as seeking "a fortune and is apparently always lucky" (Abulad, 2007, p. 11). Today the meaning seems to have has morphed into hermeneutics being "the theory and practice of interpretation" (Pure Sociology, 2026), which feels clearer. Is this a smaller, narrower focus than developmentalism.. perhaps an epistemology? This could be a way of coming to knowing.

But even as I note my assumption about hermeneutics being an epistemology, apparently Habermas refers to "developmentalist" approaches as the "hermeneutic sciences" (Hooley et al., 2018, p. 15). Oops. That too is sounding like an ontology. I think I am seeing some more reading in my future.

I don't know about you, but I do find all the narrow, fine lines between all these 'isms' just a bit too restrictive and confusing. Perhaps they will resolve themselves as I get to grips with how the experts understand them.

Sam

References:

Abulad, R. (2007). What is Hermeneutics?. Kritike, 1(2), 11-23. https://doi.org/10.25138/1.2.a.2

Greenhaus, J. H., & Callanan, G. A. (2006). Encyclopedia of Career Development (Vols. 1 & 2). Sage Publications, Inc.

Holosko, M. J., & Thyer, B. A. (2011). Pocket Glossary for Commonly Used Research Terms. Sage Publications, Inc.

Hooley, T., & Sultana, R. G. (2016). Editorial: Career guidance for social justice. Journal of the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling, 36(1), 2-11. https://hubble-live-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/nicec/redactor2_assets/files/90/NICEC_Journal_36_April_2016.pdf

Hooley, T., Sultana, R., & Thomsen, R. (Eds.). (2018). Career Guidance for Social Justice: Contesting Neoliberalism. Routledge.

Lewis-Beck, M. S., Bryman, A. E., & Liao, T. F. (2004). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods (Volume 1-3). SAGE Publications, Inc.

Parsons, F. (1909). Choosing a Vocation. Gay & Hancock Ltd.

Pure Sociology. (2026, January 28). The Hermeneutics Tradition in Social Research. https://puresociology.com/the-hermeneutics-tradition-in-social-research/

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