| Differentiation and integration of vocational interests is described as the process in which the self organizes experiences which define the personality and career identity of the individual. The literature on vocational development suggests that vocational goals originate in the family of origin (FO) and that a "crystallization of interests" occurs throughout the process of career development (Super, 1963; Roe, 1961). Literature on the socialization of professionals also suggests that the family of origin influences the career development path of the professional (Henry, Sims, & Spray, 1971; Bucher & Stelling, 1977).;The present study investigated the relationship between family of origin roles among groups of marriage and family therapists and occupational development. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, the groups of marriage and family therapists included three criterion groups: 258 supervisors, 65 therapists, and 64 therapist trainees. These professionals were compared to a non-therapist group of adults (n = 52). Family of origin roles were measured by the adult version of the Role Behavior Inventory (Verdiano, 1986). The RBI's 50 items are conceptually grouped into five scales: hero, mascot, scapegoat, lost child, and enabler.;A 2 x 6 (gender x grouped experience level) ANOVA on both the hero and enabler scales showed significant main effects for gender across groups and for experience across groups, with females scoring higher than their male counterparts on both scales. No interaction effects (gender x group) were found. The hero scale revealed that males who perceive their FO role as hero-like are more likely to gravitate toward the supervisory role in the family therapy field. Females exhibited similar patterns with regard to grouped experience levels however; all female clinicians scored significantly higher than females-in-general. Comparisons among groups on the enabler scale revealed that females scored higher than males, adults-in-general scored higher than clinicians, and experience level of the therapist was a significant factor with regard to perceptions of FO enabler role. The hypothesized inverse relationship between supervisors and therapists was not supported. The extreme scores of beginning level trainees indicated that the "fit" between trainees and supervisors and the FO role of trainees needs to be further examined as these findings have various implications for the training of marriage and family therapists. |
