Early vocational guidance reformers were motivated by moralistic thinking and theories such as which concept?

• A. Social Darwinism
• B. Behaviorism
• C. Humanism
• D. Constructivism

Answer: (A)

Social Darwinism provided the moral framework for early vocational guidance reformers. They operated under the belief that society is shaped by competition and that people have inherently different abilities, leading to natural hierarchies. This viewpoint justified sorting individuals into occupations based on supposed fitness or suitability, with the aim of boosting efficiency and social order. In this sense, guidance was less about universal self-improvement and more about directing people toward roles they were deemed best suited to fill, reflecting the idea that some people are innately better fit for certain work.

The other theories don’t fit this motivation. Behaviorism focuses on learning through conditioning, not on the social-evolutionary justification for occupational placement. Humanism emphasizes individual growth and autonomy, which runs counter to the deterministic, hierarchy-justifying tone of Social Darwinism. Constructivism centers on how people build knowledge through experience, not on selecting individuals into roles based on presumed innate fitness.