Avoidance Behavior in Vocational Motivation

A presentation of vocational motivation theories as specific cases of the more general motivational theories is made, noting the strict adherence of the theorists to taxonomies of positive motives. It is proposed that avoidance behavior be included in the theories, noting support from the work of Miller and Mowrer. Two cases of apparent career avoidance behavior are presented, along with a third case which demonstrates the development of neither positive nor negative attributes to the idea of a career. It is suggested that vocational guidance instruments attempt to measure avoidance behavior, and that the naive view that everyone has some positive motivation toward work be discarded.