Virtue Existential Career Model: A Dialectic and Integrative Approach Echoing Eastern Philosophy.

Area of Science:

• * Cross-cultural psychology and career development theory.
• * Integration of Eastern philosophy (I Ching) with Western career counseling models.
• * Indigenous psychology and globalized career practices.

Background:

• * Western career theories (modernism, postmodernism) offer contrasting views on career goals and strategies.
• * Existing theories often lack a holistic approach that balances security with adaptability.
• * Need for culturally relevant career models in a globalized world.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To introduce and develop the Virtue Existential Career (VEC) model, integrating Eastern philosophy with Western career theories.
• * To propose a VEC counseling prototype for holistic career development.
• * To explore the dialectical interplay of security and openness in career strategies.

Main Methods:

• * Action research based on Lewin's (1946) top-to-down model.
• * Development of a VEC counseling prototype with five strategies, stories, and activities.
• * Situated structure analyses and empirical data collection from college students and graduates.

Main Results:

• * The VEC model effectively blends security and openness through interwoven strategies.
• * Yang-type career practices promote actualization and concrete planning; Yin-type practices enhance self-efficacy and positive attitudes.
• * Yin-Yang blending fosters acceptance and dialectical thinking, with distinct strategy sequences benefiting different developmental groups.

Conclusions:

• * The VEC model offers a novel, culturally informed approach to career development.
• * The VEC counseling prototype demonstrates empirical support for its effectiveness.
• * The study contributes to developing indigenous career theories for a dynamic global context.