The influence of individualism-collectivism on the career development of ethnic minorities in the United States.
Item
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Title
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The influence of individualism-collectivism on the career development of ethnic minorities in the United States.
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Identifier
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AAI3063811
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identifier
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3063811
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Creator
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Carrero, Maria Rosa.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Walter Reichman
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Date
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2002
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Personality
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Abstract
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The career development literature frequently mentions that individualism-collectivism may influence the career behavior of the major ethnic minority groups in the United States. Career researchers have assumed that ethnic minorities are more collectivist than the White majority and, subsequently, their collectivist orientation would influence the way that they make career decisions and their career development strategies. This study tested these assumptions found in the literature. It was hypothesized that ethnic minorities would be more collectivist than Whites. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that individualism-collectivism would influence various aspects of career behavior. Participants were 231 college students from diverse ethnic backgrounds: Whites (N = 54), Blacks (N = 51), Asian Americans (N = 85), and Hispanics (N = 38). Contrary to the general belief in the literature, ethnic minorities were not found to be more collectivist than Whites. In fact, collectivism levels were very similar between the different ethnic groups. Results did support the general hypothesis that individualism-collectivism has an effect on career behavior. This effect was targeted to specific areas of career development: collectivists were less independent in terms of career maturity and more dependent on others, such as family and friends, to guide them in their career decision making. Collectivists tended to have a rationale for making career decisions and they made them deliberately and thinking about their future consequences. Collectivists also indicated that their families were more involved in their careers. However, individualism-collectivism did not have an effect on other areas of career behavior, such as the extent to which an individual is decisive and involved in their career decision making, the extent to which the individual is task- or pleasure oriented towards work and the extent to which the individual can compromise between needs and reality. Individualism-collectivism did not have an effect either on the degree to which a person follows their present feelings when making career decisions. Individualism-collectivism had a mixed effect on approval of individualist and collectivist career situations: older and more collectivist participants approved of situations depicting characters behaving in a collectivist way, but younger and more collectivist participants did not. Implications for career practitioners and researchers are discussed.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
