Veteran's Affairs and Career Choice

Krumboltz’s Social Learning Theory: Implications for Disability

Krumboltz’s (1979) Social Learning Theory is based upon the work of Alfred Bandura whose famous Bobo doll experiments suggested that human beings primarily learn by observing and modeling other human beings, both in good ways and bad ways. Although social behavior may partially reflect the individual’s past experiences, this too is a reflection of past social baggage, observations, and what parents and teachers have taught the subject. Learning may be positive or negative. Krumboltz (1979), however, applied Bandura’s theory to career selection. After all, choosing and pursuing a career is a social decision.

Underlying Principles

The main underlying theory behind Krumboltz (1979) is that career choice is determined by genetic endowments and special abilities, environmental conditions and effects, the ways in which we approach tasks, and various learning experiences (p. 71). Past learning impacts future career choice. This has socio-economic implications, obviously—someone who has had the necessary preparation for a career to practice medicine may have a natural alacrity at science, but ideally must also have had the preparation to enable him or her to attend a school that can leverage the student to a likely placement in a good medical school. Having a parent who is a physician and can offer internships or shadowing opportunities may be helpful as well, along with a patient and methodical mindset.

For someone with an innate disability, there may be a deficit in certain genetic endowments, which can impede their ability to leverage their natural gifts and other social aspects needed to make an effective. These deficits may be visible or invisible. For example, someone might be a very talented musician, but visual impairment may make it difficult to find the right teacher. Someone may have a gift at math or science, but their lack of social skills due to being on the autism spectrum can make it difficult to gain the social experiences and connections to advance in their career. Career counselors can help the individual to bridge the gap between disability and opportunity.

Social Learning Theory and Disabled Veterans

Social learning theory regarding career choice can be particularly useful working with disabled veterans because it can enable them to identify past strengths the veterans still possess, and leverage those gifts for future career changes and gains. For example, a veteran who may be struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety due to post traumatic stress-disorder (PTSD) may be experiencing feelings of worthlessness, and perceptions that he is weak (“Depression, Trauma, and PTSD,” 2021). Krumboltz’s (1979) theory can enable the veteran to identify past skills to increase a sense of self-efficacy and personal fulfillment (also critical components of Krumboltz’s theory). For example, a veteran who had a passion for motorcycles before entering the service who is now physically disabled might find fulfilment opening a motorcycle repair shop, using his past talents and current resources to leverage his gifts to a new career. This can also help the veteran heal from the frustration of not being mobile as he was previously.

Krumboltz’s theory also underlines the need for compassion towards one’s self. The theory also stresses how environmental variables can make pursing certain career objectives difficult. Many veterans may return from service with the same high, even impossible expectations placed upon them as their officers in the service did. But operating with those same levels of flight-or-fight anxiety about excelling that may have been appropriate during the veteran’s service are not necessarily necessary, normal, or desirable while a civilian. On the other hand, given Krumboltz stresses the importance of learning history in career choice, the ability to learn new mechanical things and coping strategies while a veteran may be useful. Also, connecting veterans with other veterans and encouraging them to model their behaviors and choices upon the successes of others may be useful.

Why Krumboltz’s Social Learning Theory Versus Others

Of course, Krumboltz’s theory is one among many. Parson’s (1909) theory of career choice stresses self-knowledge above all else. While this is indeed a valuable skill on one hand, on the other hand, it does not take into consideration environmental conditions to a sufficient degree. Veteran psychology, although particular to the individual, also reflects certain environmental conditions common to all individuals who have left the service.

Additionally, methods of learning may be affected by the ways in which the individuals were taught about how to approach challenges in the service, again harkening back to Krumboltz’s approach of career choice as a learned behavior. Other, trait-based theories of career choice such as that of Holland’s (1979), suggest that realistic, investigative, artistic, social, and enterprising traits and orientations determine a fondness for particular careers. Once again, however, environmental and physical pressures, along with the need to self-support can act as factors beyond pure personal volition in career choice.

Incorporation Into Own Practice