Ann Roe: Personality Development Theory

Ann Roe: published theory in the 1990s

Individuals select their occupation based on biological, sociological, and psychological differences.  These psychological differences originate from children's interactions with their parents.

Roe's classification system:
8 groups
Service
Business contact
Organization
Technology
Outdoor
Science
General culture
Arts and entertainment

6 rows
Represent six different levels of complexity and responsibility for each occupation (the difficulty and complexity of decisions)

Propositions of Roe's theory

1. Limits of genetic inheritance: intelligence and temperament are hereditary
2. Limits of sociological and economic factors: race, gender, cultural or social attitudes, economic limits
3. Development of interests and attitudes: determined by early patterns of satisfactions and frustrations
4. Determinants of interest: interests are determined by degree of need satisfaction
5. Development of needs into motivators: the more intense the needs, the more intense the need to become successful

Roe's model of parent-child interaction: 3 toes of parental attitudes

1. Concentration on the child: overprotective OR overdemanding
2. Avoidance of the child: rejection OR neglect
3. Acceptance of the child: Parents encourage independence, do not ignore or reject the child, create a relatively tension-free environment; casual acceptance (low key attitude) OR loving acceptance (affirming, demonstrative, outward show of support)

**NOT supported by research but still shows up in career information.