The assumption that individuals have unique patterns of ability, which can be measured and matched with jobs, is a key concept of

• A. Life-span development theory
• B. Trait-and-factor theory
• C. Social-cognitive career theory
• D. Constructivist theory

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is that individuals have unique, relatively stable patterns of ability that can be measured and matched with job requirements. This is the essence of trait-and-factor theory. It holds that career choice comes from identifying a person’s traits—aptitudes, interests, values—and aligning them with the factors of occupations, such as required skills and working conditions. In practice, counselors use assessments and occupational information to find jobs where the trait profile fits the job demands, guiding the person toward suitable paths. The other theories describe different mechanisms: life-span development focuses on growth and transitions over time; social-cognitive career theory emphasizes how self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and social context shape interests and actions; constructivist theory centers on how individuals construct meaning from their experiences. Trait-and-factor theory is the approach that centers on measurement and matching of traits to jobs.