Behavioral Counseling and Trait-factor Counseling

Trait-factor counseling is the only counseling method which has its root in vocational counseling. It dates back to 1908, when Frank Parsons founded the Boston Vocational Bureau and stated his conviction that in order to choose the best career, one had to understand oneself, the characteristics of different job environments, and the relationship between these variables. Trait-factor theory was further developed during the testing movement in the U.S./ during the 1930's by psychologists like E.G. Williamson, John Darley, and Donald G. Paterson (Downing, 1975).

Trait-factor counseling is an extremely cognitive approach based on the scientific method and the theory of individual differences. Its major underlying assumptions include the following:

1. Each person has a unique pattern of traits (i.e. interests, abilities, and characteristics) that are relatively stable and rarely change after adolescence.

2. These traits are measurable and quan

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been criticized for being overly cognitive and reductionistic. That is, relying on objective measurements of traits may lead to an oversimplified view of the human condition. Further, the very existence of valid and reliable objective tests, and of stable traits, remains highly questionable. Trait-factor counseling is also limited insofar as it only seeks to describe a client's potential rather than help him achieve it. E.G, Williamson (1965) was the only trait-factor theorist to address this question: he argued that the counselor has the responsibility to promote the self-actualization of his client, rather than just measuring it. Behavioral therapy, like trait-factor counseling, is firmly grounded in the scientific method, and it is committed to bringing experimental findings into clinical practice in order to change clients' behavior and resolve personal and social problems (Corey, 1986). Behaviorism has its roots in Pavlov's (1927) famous classical conditioning experiments in which he conditioned dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell rather than the sight or smell of food. This stimulus-response model of behavior, however, was insufficient to explain the diversity of human behavior: it was not until B.F. Skinner's (19
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Freedom Dignity, George Cristiani, BF Skinner's, EG Williamson, Donald Paterson, , Vocational Bureau, Skinner BF, trait-factor counseling, Williamson EG, References Corey, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, hill 1982, behavioral counseling, behavior modification, objective tests, cliffs nj prentice-hall, george cristiani, 3rd ed, eg williamson, george cristiani 1990, englewood cliffs nj, beyond freedom dignity,
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Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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