Applying Chaos Theory to Careers: Attraction and attractors |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Electrical and Automation Engineering, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang, 330013, China;2. School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China;1. Merrick School of Business, University of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;2. Nikos, Dutch Institute for Knowledge Intensive Entrepreneurship, University of Twente, Postbus 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands;3. Robert O. Anderson Schools of Management, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87122, USA |
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| Abstract: | This article presents the Chaos Theory of Careers with particular reference to the concepts of “attraction” and “attractors”. Attractors are defined in terms of characteristic trajectories, feedback mechanisms, end states, ordered boundedness, reality visions and equilibrium and fluctuation. The identified types of attractors (point, pendulum, torus and strange) and their relevance to career development are described. The attractor concept is then applied to major barriers in career development and life transition by a consideration of closed and open systems thinking. It is contended that ultimately the context of human experience is an open system and that career development difficulties arise when closed systems thinking is used in an open systems reality. The practical counseling applications and counseling research evidence using attractors are briefly reviewed. The additional potential contributions of the Chaos Theory of Careers to the career development field are also outlined. |
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