The digital vocational narrative will help highlight my career story. The YouTube videos that have been selected for the digital narrative are titled Vinnie Paz Full Excl. Interview (JMT) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMV-nb8nOP0&feature=youtu.be) and Dr. Phil Interviews the Interventionist on Prescription Drug Abuse (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMV-nb8nOP0&feature=youtu.be). In the Vinnie Paz Full Excl. Interview (JMT) video, Vinnie discusses different psychology issues like violence drugs, social movements, generation leaders, revolution and the creative process. The Dr. Phil Interviews the Interventionist on Prescription Drug Abuse, Joani Gammill appeared on the CBS show “Dr. Phil.” These videos mean a lot to me because they discuss the issues of drugs and addiction. As a psychologist, I believe that there is much that I should be doing to help counsel the addicts so that addiction problems may be eliminated in the society. This begins by first understanding the issue of drugs from a psychological perspective and developing solutions that can help the addicts.
Holland’s Vocational Choice and Personality Types can be used to analyze the videos. According to this theory, there are six personality types including investigative, social, conventional, enterprising, artistic and realistic. Individuals having the same personality always work together to create an environment that works for all of them (Holland, 1966). This can be seen in the Vinnie video where the band and gang members work together to create an environment where all of them can thrive. Members are forced to conform to the personality style of the gang in order for them to fit in the band or gang. There are standards and culture of the gang or band including the nature of dressing, the language and even their walking styles for some cases. Members of the groups subconsciously find themselves conforming to the standards. The same concept can be seen in the Dr. Phil interview where Joani Gammill uses her personality to help improve the welfare and condition of people addicted to prescription medications so that they can fit in the society. Joani Gammill is an interventionist who having suffered from addiction medication herself is helping people get over prescription drugs. This is very related to my personality style as I am also an interventionist who helps families deal with loved ones who suffer from chemical dependency. Through this I believe that I can offer solutions to the problems that face these people.
The other theory that can be used in analyzing the videos is Career Development Theory Review: Super’s Life-Span, Life-Space Theory that was first developed by Donald Super. In this theory, Super states that an individual’s personal experiences interact with his or her occupational preferences to create the individual’s self concept. Super believed that this self-concept can change over time due to individual experiences (Super, 1980). When the video Dr. Phil interview is considered, it is seen that her personal experience changed her notion of the self-concept. The suffering that she underwent as an addict of prescription drugs made her use her career to choose to improve the lives of other people suffering from the same problem. The interview in Vinnie Paz also talks about drug issues and social movements. I have also been influenced by my social environment. I have lived in an environment where I see people suffer from chemical dependency. Having seen this suffering I have decided to help the families so that they can live peacefully without being stressed.
There are common interests, values and themes in the two videos. One of the common interests and themes is drugs and addiction counseling. The videos talk of the dangerous of drug abuse. As a psychologist I believe that we should do more in helping people addicted to drugs. The causes of drug abuse should be understood from a social and psychological perspective. This will help in developing interventions that can help fight this problem. The other common theme in the two videos is the principle of self concept. The people in the video have their own interpretation of the self concept and they are using this self concept to create a difference in their environments. In my personal experience I come from a family background where my father is strict. He wants to manage most of the things that we do. We have gotten used to his style of leadership. In my social life, I am a fan of Michael Jordan. I am an athlete and engage in boxing sport. This has had an effect on my personality because it has made me look rather rocky. In my personality, I am an adrenaline seeker and like to find solutions to people’s problems. That is why I am an interventionist. I believe that I will be successful in my career. I base this reasoning on Holland’s theory which states that professionals who practice in a work environment that is almost similar to their personality are likely to be more satisfied and successful.
In conclusion, this essay has discussed my vocational narrative. The discussion has been based on Holland’s Vocational Choice and Personality Types and Career Development Theory Review: Super’s Life-Span, Life-Space Theory. These theories have been used to analyze two videos titled Vinnie Paz Full Excl. Interview (JMT) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMV-nb8nOP0&feature=youtu.be) and Dr. Phil Interviews the Interventionist on Prescription Drug Abuse (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMV-nb8nOP0&feature=youtu.be). I am an interventionist who wants to develop solutions to problems affecting people in the society. I have involved myself in counseling families whose loved ones suffer from chemical dependency.
- Hazelden. (2011 April 19). Dr. Phil Interviews the Interventionist on Prescription Drug Abuse. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq9N-6zNysY&feature=youtu.be
- HIPHOPJ01. (2015 February 23). Vinnie Paz Full Excl. Interview (JMT). [Video File].
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMV-nb8nOP0&feature=youtu.be - Holland, J.L. (1966). The psychology of vocational choice: A theory of personality types and
model environments. New York: Blaisdell Publishing Company. - Super, D.E. (1980). A life span, life-space, approach to career development. Journal of
Vocational Behavior, 16(3), 282-298.
