archetypal values, career orientations, perceived career success and meaningfulness didi-mari du ...

228 Pages·2011·6.18 MB·English

ARCHETYPAL VALUES, CAREER ORIENTATIONS, PERCEIVED
CAREER SUCCESS AND MEANINGFULNESS

by

DIDI-MARI DU TOIT

submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of

MASTER OF COMMERCE

in the subject

INDUSTRIAL AND ORGANISATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

at the

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

SUPERVISOR: PROF M COETZEE

DECEMBER 2010
DECLARATION

I, DIDI-MARI DU TOIT, student number 3552-732-3, declare that the dissertation entitled,
“Archetypal values, career orientations, perceived career success and
meaningfulness”, is my own work, and that all the sources that I have used or quoted
have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references.

I further declare that ethical clearance to conduct the research has been obtained from the
Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, University of South Africa, as
well as from the participating organisation.

_____________________________
DIDI-MARI DU TOIT

30 NOVEMBER 2010

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my gratitude to the following people for their assistance in the
writing of this dissertation:

 Professor Melinde Coetzee my supervisor. Thank you for your enthusiasm,
guidance, responsiveness and motivation. Thank you for your support, patience
and for believing in my abilities. Your expectations far exceeded my own. You
have been an inspiration throughout my studies and have always challenged me to
reach new heights.

 Carol Saccaggi, who provided professional assistance with regards to the editing
and Monica Coetzee who provided the statistical support.

 The research participants who participated in the study. Thank you for your time
and your valuable contributions, without you this research would not have been
possible. I would also like to thank the organisation that participated, in particular
the individuals within the organisation who were instrumental in assisting and
supporting the research.

 All those individuals who were impacted by this research process. Thank you to
my family, friends and colleagues for your understanding and patience. In
particular, to my sister, Yolandi Theron, thank you for being unfailing and
accepting responsibility far beyond what was expected of you, throughout this
difficult time.

 My husband, Peet du Toit. Without you this journey would have been impossible.
Thank you for always believing in me, for your support and understanding. Thank
you for motivating me to be the best I can be. Thank you for sacrificing your time
and for your never ending patience. You are my source of strength.

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SUMMARY

ARCHETYPAL VALUES, CAREER ORIENTATIONS, PERCEIVED CAREER SUCCESS
AND MEANINGFULNESS

by
DIDI-MARI DU TOIT

SUPERVISOR : Prof M Coetzee
DEPARTMENT : Industrial and Organisational Psychology
DEGREE : MCom (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between archetypal
values (measured by the PMAI), career orientations (measured by the COI), perceived
career success and meaningfulness (measured by open-ended questions) in a sample of
207 participants employed in the science and engineering sector. The secondary objective
was to qualitatively assess the core themes underlying individuals‟ perceptions of their
career success and meaningfulness. The tertiary objective was to determine whether
demographic groups differ in terms of their archetypal values and career orientations.

The research findings indicated significant relationships between participants‟ archetypal
values, career orientations, their perceptions of career success and meaningfulness. The
findings further revealed a number of core themes underlying individuals‟ perceptions of
their career success and meaningfulness. Significant differences were observed between
demographic groups in terms of their archetypal values and career orientations. The
findings contributed valuable new knowledge to inform career counselling and decision-
making practices.

KEY TERMS
archetypal values, career orientations, career success, career meaningfulness, career
decision-making, career counselling, career anchors, career development, personal
development, career psychology

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 SCIENTIFIC OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH 1

1.1 BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATION OF THE RESEARCH 1

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT 4

1.2.1 Research questions with regard to the literature review 4
1.2.2 Research questions with regard to the empirical study 5

1.3 AIMS 5

1.3.1 General aim 6
1.3.2 Specific aims 6
1.3.2.1 Literature review 6
1.3.2.2 Empirical study 6

1.4 THE PARADIGM PERSPECTIVE 7

1.4.1 The intellectual climate 8
1.4.1.1 Literature review 8
1.4.1.2 Empirical study 9
1.4.2 The market of intellectual resources 11
1.4.2.1 Meta-theoretical statements 11
1.4.2.2 Theoretical models 13
1.4.2.3 Conceptual descriptions 13
1.4.2.4 Central hypothesis 15
1.4.2.5 Methodological paradigm 15

1.5 RESEARCH DESIGN 16

1.5.1 Exploratory research 16
1.5.2 Descriptive research 16
1.5.3 Validity 17
1.5.4 Reliability 17
1.5.5 Trustworthiness 17
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1.5.5.1 Credibility 18
1.5.5.2 Transferability 18
1.5.5.3 Dependability and confirmability 18
1.5.6 Unit of analysis 19
1.5.7 Research variables 19
15.8 Methods to ensure ethical research principles 19

1.6 RESEARCH METHOD 20

1.6.1 Phase 1: Literature review 20
1.6.2 Phase 2: Empirical study 22
1.6.3 Phase 3: Conclusions, limitations and recommendations 22

1.7 CHAPTER LAY-OUT 22

1.8 CHAPTER SUMMARY 23

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ON ARCHETYPAL VALUES, CAREER
ORIENTATIONS, PERCEIVEDCAREER SUCCESS AND PERCEIVED CAREER
MEANINGFULNESS 24

2.1 DISCIPLINARY FOUNDATION 24

2.1.1 Career Psychology 24

2.2 CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS 25

2.2.1 Career 25
2.2.2 Career decision-making 27
2.2.3 Career counselling 28

2.3 TRENDS FROM RESEARCH LITERATURE 31

2.3.1 Archetypal values 31
2.3.1.1 Jung's analytical psychology 31
2.3.1.2 Criticisms of Jung's archetypal theory 38
2.3.1.3 Pearson's archetypal hero's journey 39
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2.3.1.4 Organisational impact of the twelve archetypal values 64
2.3.1.5 Individuation/development process 65
2.3.1.6 Criticisms of Pearson's archetypal development theory 65
2.3.1.7 Integration of theories on archetypal values 66
2.3.1.8 Variables influencing archetypal values 67
2.3.2 Career Orientations 73
2.3.2.1 Schein's career anchors theory 72
2.3.2.2 Relationship between career orientations and other career constructs 86
2.3.2.3 Variables influencing career orientations 87
2.3.2.4 Criticisms of Schein's career orientations theory 89
2.3.3 Perceived career success 89
2.3.3.1 Career success 89
2.3.3.2 Objective career success 90
2.3.3.3 Subjective career success 90
2.3.3.4 Predictors of career success 93
2.3.3.5 Career success strategies 93
2.3.3.6 Integration of perceived career success 94
2.3.4 Perceived career meaningfulness 94
2.3.4.1 Frankl's existential theory of meaningfulness 95
2.3.4.2 Spirituality as a form of career meaningfulness 95
2.3.4.3 Career as a calling and a form of career meaningfulness 97
2.3.4.4 Integration of perceived career meaningfulness 98

2.4 THEORETICAL INTEGRATION OF ARCHETYPAL VALUES, CAREER
ORIENTATIONS, PERCEIVED CAREER SUCCESS AND PERCEIVED CAREER
MEANINGFULNESS 99

2.4.1 Theoretical relationship between archetypal values and career orientations
100
2.4.2 Impact of differences between race, gender, age, marital status and
employment status groups in terms of archetypal values and career
orientations 105
2.4.3 Theoretical relationship between perceived career success and perceived
career meaningfulness 106
2.4.4 Theoretical relationship between archetypal values, career orientations,
perceived career success and perceived career meaningfulness 109
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2.4.5 The theoretical implications for career decision-making and career
counselling practices 111
2.4.6 Hypotheses and propositions 113

2.5 CHAPTER SUMMARY 115

3 CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH ARTICLE 117
Archetypal values, career orientations, perceived career success and
perceived career meaningfulnes 115

3.1 INTRODUCTION 119

3.1.1 Key focus of the study 119
3.1.2 Background to the study 119
3.1.3 Trends from the research literature 120
3.1.3.1 Archetypal values 118
3.1.3.2 Career orientations 120
3.1.3.3 Perceived career success 120
3.1.3.4 Perceived career meaningfulness 121
3.1.3.5 Integration: Archetypal values, carer orientation, perceived career success and
perceived career meaningfulness 122
3.1.4 Research objectives 127
3.1.5 The potential value add of the study 128

3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN 128

3.2.1 Research approach 128
3.2.2 Research method 128
3.2.2.1 Participants 126
3.2.2.2 Measuring instruments 128
3.2.2.3 Research procedure 130
3.2.2.4 Data analysis 131

3.3 RESULTS 135

3.3.1 Descriptive statistics 135
3.3.2 Inter-correlations between archetypal values and career orientations 136
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3.3.3 Multiple regression analyses 141
3.3.4 Inferential statistics: tests for significant mean differences 146
3.3.4.1 Race 144
3.3.4.2 Gender 145
3.3.4.3 Age 146
3.3.4.4 Marital status 148
3.3.4.5 Employment status 148

3.4 Qualitative data analyses: perceived career success and perceived career
meaningfulness 151

3.4.1 Perceived career success 151
3.4.2 Perceived career meaningfulness 160
3.4.3 Relationship between archetypal values, career orientations, perceived
career success and perceived career meaningfulness 168
3.4.4 Decisions about research hypotheses 172

3.5 DISCUSSION 172

3.5.1 Archetypal values profile 172
3.5.2 Career orientations profile 173
3.5.3 Relationship between archetypal values, career orientations, perceived
career success and perceived career meaningfulness 173
3.5.4 Perceptions underlying individuals’ career success and career
meaningfulness 177
3.5.4.1 Perceptions underlying individuals' career success 175
3.5.4.2 Perceptions underlying individuals' career meaningfulness 176
3.5.5 Differences between groups with regard to archetypal values and career
orientations 179
3.5.5.1 Race 177
3.5.5.2 Gender 178
3.5.5.3 Age 179
3.5.5.4 Marital status 180
3.5.5.5 Employment status 180

3.6 CONCLUSIONS 182

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3.7 LIMITATIONS 183

3.8 RECOMMENDATIONS 183

4 CHAPTER 4 CONCLUSIONS, LIMITATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 184

4.1 CONCLUSIONS RELATING TO THE DEFINED OBJECTIVES 184
4.1.1 Conclusions regarding the literature review 184
4.1.1.1 The first aim: To conceptualise archetypal values, career orientations, perceived
career success and perceived career meaningfulness, and to explain the
theoretical linkage between these variables 182
4.1.1.2 The second aim: To determine theoretically (based on a review of the literature)
the role of race, gender, age, marital status and employment status in archetypal
values and career orientations 185
4.1.1.3 The third aim: Conceptualising the implications of the theoretical relationship
between archetypal values, career orientations, perceived career success and
perceived career meaningfulness for career decision-making and counselling
practices in the South African organisational context 185
4.1.2 Conclusions regarding the empirical study 188
4.1.2.1 The first empirical aim: To investigate the relationship dynamics between
archetypal values, career orientations, perceived career success and career
meaningfulness in a sample of respondents in the South African organisational
context 187
4.1.2.2 The second aim: To identify the core themes that underlie individuals' perceptions
of their career success and career meaningfulness 190
4.1.2.3 The third aim: To determine the differences between the archetypal and career
orientations of individuals from different race, marital status, employment status,
gender and age groups as manifested in the sample of respondents 193
4.1.2.4 The fourth aim: To formulate recommendations for the discipline of Industrial and
Organisational Psychology, particularly with regard to career decision-making,
career counselling practices and possible future research 196
4.1.3 Conclusions regarding the central hypothesis 199

4.2 LIMITATIONS 199

4.2.1 Limitations of the literature review 199
4.2.2 Limitations of the empirical study 200
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