What does Super's life-span theory emphasize?

Super's life-span theory emphasizes five life stages that individuals typically progress through during their careers. These stages—growth, exploration, establishment, maintenance, and decline—highlight the developmental aspects of career choices and how these choices evolve over time. Each stage corresponds to different life challenges and transitions, such as developing skills in early years, exploring various job opportunities in young adulthood, solidifying a career path in middle adulthood, maintaining professional roles as one ages, and eventually stepping back or transitioning out of the workforce in later years.

This framework underscores the idea that career development is a dynamic process influenced not only by individual actions but also by changing societal and occupational contexts. Understanding these five stages allows career development professionals to tailor their counseling strategies to support individuals at various points in their career journey, making it a comprehensive approach to career development.