Anne Roe

Anne Roe (1904-1991)

Roe developed a Personality Development Theory in which she suggests that career choices can be predicted based upon biological, sociological, and psychological differences.  This idea was published in her Psychology of Occupations (1956).

The Personality Development Theory has two major components.  The first component draws upon Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (see pyramid diagram below) to describe the limitations and possibilities of different individuals as it relates to their occupational choices.  Roe argues that for those in unsafe or unstable situations who are unable to access the needs on the bottom of the pyramid, their occupational choices will be severely limited.  Roe suggests that as individuals experience more stability of needs (as one is able to move higher up the hierarchy) , there will be more diversity and variety of career choices.





















The second component of the theory suggests that occupational selections are made in response to and because of the relationship and interactions between parents and children.  Roe suggested that parents are either concentrating on the child, avoiding the child, or accepting the child.  In Roe's views concentrating can lead to over protection of a child or unreachable expectations.  For parents who ignore the child, Roe suggests that children might feel rejected or neglected by the avoiding parent.  And finally, Roe suggests that acceptance of the child encourages the child's independence and supports the child through either a laid back casual acceptance or a more overt loving acceptance. Roe goes on to suggest that these different parenting styles and children's experiences growing up can predict the occupations that one will pursue.  See the diagram below for the application of how the parenting styles may lead to wanting to work with people or avoid working with people.

The Groups on the chart refer to occupational groups that Roe developed.  These 8 groups are:
1. Service
2. Business
3. Organization
4. Technology
5. Outdoor
6. Science
7. General Culture
8. Arts and Entertainment

Roe suggests that individuals find themselves resonating with one of more of these occupational groupings and that various careers in these groupings can be divided into levels based upon the complexity or difficulty of the decisions that are required in the various jobs.  The jobs with the most complexity and difficult decision making are categorized with a # 1 and the least complex have a # 6.  See below for a chart example of the occupational groupings and levels.

The following website gives a very basic overview of Roe's theory and application: http://www.ehow.com/info_8628146_ann-roes-three-parenting-styles.html