11/01/2024

A Review of “Holland’s RIASEC Hexagon: A Paradigm for Life and Work Decisions”

By Asia Henry

Holland’s RIASEC Hexagon: A Paradigm for Life and Work Decisions presents an approachable, informative guide to John Holland’s RIASEC theory and its practical applications. Written by Emily Bullock-Yowell, PhD, and Robert Reardon, PhD, and published by Florida State Open Publishing (FSOP) in 2024, the book serves both individuals seeking career guidance and professionals in vocational psychology. FSOP, an initiative of Florida State University Libraries, provides open access to free information resources.

Dr. Robert Reardon, Professor Emeritus at Florida State University’s Career Center, has been engaged with vocational psychology since 1969, contributing to the development of the Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) theory of career decision-making. Dr. Emily Bullock-Yowell is a professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she researches vocational psychology with an emphasis on RIASEC and CIP theory and has authored over 60 publications.

This review highlights how the book, Holland’s RIASEC Hexagon, offers valuable insights for individuals navigating career choices, graduate students in vocational psychology, and experienced career practitioners.

Application for the Everyday Individual

One of the key themes in the book is the use of real-life examples to make career decisions relatable. The stories of Sheree and Penny illustrate that individuals struggling with career choices are not alone. These anecdotes reveal the thought process of career service providers, which may alleviate apprehensions about seeking guidance. The examples also explain the RIASEC hexagon's practical use in an accessible manner for those unfamiliar with career services.

While these stories help break down the theory’s application, more visual aids could have made the complex ideas, like the secondary constructs of the theory, easier to understand for non-academic readers. For instance, Figure 3.1 in the book explains key concepts like consistency, differentiation, congruence, and profile elevation—terms that would benefit from additional visual support (Bullock-Yowell & Reardon, 2024, pp. 50). Such aids would particularly benefit graduate students transitioning from theoretical knowledge to practical application in career counseling.

Insights for the Graduate Student

Chapters 2 and 4 delve into John Holland’s development of the theory, emphasizing the importance of considering both the individual and their environment, and their compatibility known as person-environment fit. Table 2.1 offers an in-depth breakdown of the RIASEC personality types, detailing their values, self-perceptions, how others view them, and the environments they thrive in (Bullock-Yowell & Reardon, 2024, pp. 32-33). This is crucial for graduate students learning to apply RIASEC theory in practicum settings. More about the person-environment fit that Dr. Holland emphasized can be found in My Life with A Theory: John L. Holland's Autobiography and Theory of Careers, published by the National Career Development Association (NCDA) and edited by Jack R. Rayman & Gary D. Gottfredson.

Additionally, Table 4.1 links Holland’s personality types to relevant academic majors and career paths, aiding students in understanding the theory's practical application (Bullock-Yowell & Reardon, 2024, pp. 68). Chapter 3 further explains secondary constructs of the hexagon, such as consistency and congruence, which are vital for interpreting how different personality types relate to each other. The book also introduces intervention tools like the RIASEC Game (also known as the Holland Party Game), The Educational Opportunity Finder, the World of Work (WoW) initiative for elementary students, and O*NET. These examples help graduate students develop practical skills for career counseling.

The thorough exploration of the RIASEC theory makes this book an essential resource for courses in vocational psychology and career counseling, especially for students preparing to work with clients.

Actionable Takeaways for the Career Services Practitioner

Beyond its usefulness for students and the general public, Holland’s RIASEC Hexagon provides valuable tools for experienced career services practitioners. Chapter 5 outlines various assessment tools like The Self-Directed Search, The Vocational Preference Inventory, and The Strong Interest Inventory, which are essential for practitioners guiding clients through career decisions. It also lists other assessments designed to help managers address employees’ job fit and work environment concerns.

Chapter 6 broadens the scope of RIASEC theory beyond career counseling, showing how the theory can be applied to parenting and relationships, with empirical examples to illustrate its utility in these areas. Chapter 7 addresses common myths and misconceptions about RIASEC theory, making it particularly useful for practitioners who are less familiar with the theory.

Overall, the book provides a comprehensive overview of RIASEC theory, making it a valuable resource for both new and experienced career practitioners.

Well-Rounded and Accessible Resource

This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in career development—whether they are navigating their own career path, pursuing graduate studies in vocational psychology, or seeking to deepen their understanding of the RIASEC theory as a career services practitioner. The use of relatable anecdotes, coupled with a limited amount of industry jargon, makes it accessible to a wide audience. Furthermore, its detailed breakdown of assessment tools, insights into theoretical development, and practical case studies make it a well-rounded resource for enhancing career service practices. Whether you are just starting in the field or are an established practitioner, Holland’s RIASEC Hexagon: A Paradigm for Life and Work Decisions offers essential tools and insights for helping individuals make informed career decisions. Anyone interested in career development, either personally or professionally, will find this book a worthwhile read.

References

Bullock-Yowell, E., & Reardon, R. (2024). Holland’s RIASEC hexagon: A paradigm for life and work decisions. Florida State Open Publishing. https://doi.org/10.33009/fsop_bullock-yowell0524

Rayman, J. R., & Gottfredson, G. D., (2020). My life with a theory: John L. Holland’s autobiography and theory of careers. National Career Development Association. https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sd/product/16793/_BLANK/layout_products/false

Asia Henry is a third-year doctoral student in the Combined Counseling Psychology and School Psychology program at Florida State University under the research team of Dr. Martin Swanbrow Becker. Asia also received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, and Master's degree in School Psychology from Florida State University in 2020 and 2023, respectively. Asia's research interests include Multiracial individuals, Multiracial identity development, and the mental health of minoritized populations. Asia works at the Career Center, where she serves as a graduate assistant for Experiential Learning, managing the Garnet and Gold Scholar Society for undergraduate scholars. Further, she assists with Career Liaison services to various colleges, including the College of Arts and Sciences' psychology, neuropsychology, and biological science majors. She provides career advising to FSU students and community members across all major and industry areas. Asia is also a part of the GROWTH lab, run by Dr. Laura Reid Marks in the College of Medicine, which focuses on research related to racial microaggressions and their effects on mental health outcomes, behaviors, and career outcomes in minoritized groups. She can be reached at arhenry@fsu.edu