Contrasting perspectives on work: an exploratory qualitative study based on the concept of adaptation.

This article was acceptedfor publication March 10, 1998. Objectives. Objectives ofthis study were (a) to compare contrasting work experiences offive persons as alternative ways individuaLs select and use occupationaL opportunities availabLe in their environments, and (b) to examine the adaptive significance ofwork in their Lives. Method. Five students in a graduate course on work and playas occupations each devewped a work narrative fOr an aduLt oftheir choice that incLuded how that person came to choose particular kinds ofwork, described the person's current work experience, and examined the adaptive significance ofwork in the person's Life. Data were gathered through observations in the persons' work settings and through open-ended interviews. Comparative analysis of the five work narratives was completed by students and facuLty members as a group. Resul ts. WOrk narratives ofafast-fOod restaurant manager, a Life-flight nurse, a tennis teaching pro, a financiaL analyst, and a manufacturer's representative fOr oilfield equipment ilLustrate contrasting perspectives on work as "escapingfrom secLusion," "establishing Life work," "enacting a family tradition, " "getting stuck, "and "rebuilding a Life. " The participants who modified or combined occupationaL opportunities in creative ways generaLly fOund their work more rewarding than those who accepted availabLe work opportunities as unaLterable "givens. " Conclusions. The adaptive significance ofwork fOr these persons had both short-term benefits, incLuding intrinsic enjoyment ofits activities and extrinsic benefits, such as sociaL recognition and income, and wng-term benefits of contributions to identity and contributions to purposes Larger than oneself