Let's learn about Anne Roe's theory of personality and career by practicing on ourselves! I've found this kind of application can be a great way to cement theoretical knowledge.
As a brief refresher, Anne Roe created a personality theory of career choice that heavily emphasized our unique needs as individuals. According to Roe, we choose careers to meet unmet needs that develop from our genetics and early experiences.
Important to remember for your exam, Roe identified a discrete number of fields and levels. I'll go over these here:
Roe identified eight occupational fields (listed below). As you read these, note which ones resonate with you. When I do work like this with my clients, I prompt them to connect with their bodies and notice which field creates some sort of excited or grounded response. Do they feel butterflies in their stomach? Excited tension in the chest? I've listed some helpful words next to the different fields to give you a sense of what they include. I've also, importantly, put an asterisk next to the social fields. Roe payed close attention to which fields emphasize social interactions and which do not.
service* (serving/taking care of others)
business contact* (persuading, buying, selling)
organization* (managing, pursuing efficiency)
technology (engineering, transporting, producing)
outdoor (engaging with nature & natural resources)
science (theorizing, researching, medicine*)
general culture* (preserving culture, transmitting culture, teaching)
arts & entertainment* (creating, performing)
For each field, we may gravitate toward one of six levels identified by Roe. Notice which ones resonate with you.
professional/managerial (independent responsibility)
professional/managerial (part 2 - narrower responsibilities)
semiprofessional/small business
skilled
semiskilled
unskilled
As you reflect on which fields and levels stood out to you, ask yourself: what was the impact of my parent/guardian relationships on my choice? What was the impact of my social preferences on my choice?
How useful do you find Roe's fields and levels? How do these apply to your choice to work in mental healthcare?