The happenstance learning theory categorizes learning experiences into two major categories: instrumental and associative. Every time a person watches TV, listens to the radio, or plays a game, he or she learns something. Every time a person talks to another person, he or she learns something. Some experiences are planned, many are not. Every minute people are engaged in learning activities whether they know it or not. Throughout life people have innumerable learning experiences. If serendipity is included as a crucial part of the learning process, we have what can be called a happenstance learning theory. Unplanned events play a major role in everyone’s career development. A common question asked of children is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Paradoxically, very few adults are doing exactly what they planned at age 18. Our society advocates that people plan and declare an occupational goal early in life. Within the learning theory framework, how occupations-accountant, senator, plumber-developed from life’s learning experiences can be explained.
A learning theory about career development explains how people discover their current occupations through a variety of different learning experiences. A theory is simply an explanation for understanding how things happen and why.
