Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Practice

Which life stage in Super's theory focuses on maintaining established positions?

1. Exploration

2. Establishment

3. Maintenance

4. Decline

The correct answer is: Maintenance

The life stage in Super's theory that focuses on maintaining established positions is indeed the maintenance stage. During this phase, individuals are typically in their career for a substantial period and are concerned with sustaining their level of achievement, ensuring job stability, and continuing their professional development. This can involve seeking to consolidate their work experience and growing their skills to adapt to any changes in their roles. In contrast, other stages such as exploration involve individuals seeking to understand their interests and options for potential careers, while the establishment stage centers around taking on greater responsibilities and beginning a career path after initial explorations. The decline stage, on the other hand, is when individuals begin to transition out of the workforce, focusing more on legacy and retirement rather than maintaining established roles. Thus, maintenance is characterized by the effort to remain competent and valued in one’s profession, reinforcing why it is the correct answer in the context of Super's theory.