Jerry Dixon AFPsSI, FHEA.

Publications

• The Proposed Role of Emotional Intelligence in Job Seeking

  J Dixon

  01/2011

  Degree: PG Cert. HETAC 9

  Supervisor: Brian Bennett

  Download Paper

• Ethics : From Ancient Virtues to Contemporary Pragmatism

  J. Dixon

  Keynote address to the Annual Conference of the Employment Assistance Practitioners Association, Dublin Castle, Dublin; 01/2010

  From the ancient Greeks, to medieval codes of chivalry; Ethical virtues and codes of ethical conduct have publically signified that professionals adhere to a ‘higher purpose’. Summed up by the 18th Century Utilitarian stance, ‘Did we manage to promote happiness and reduce harm to the greatest number... [more] From the ancient Greeks, to medieval codes of chivalry; Ethical virtues and codes of ethical conduct have publically signified that professionals adhere to a ‘higher purpose’. Summed up by the 18th Century Utilitarian stance, ‘Did we manage to promote happiness and reduce harm to the greatest number of citizens’. However, ‘Whose ethics’ should we commit to. Whilst refraining from self interest, EAP providers often sit on the pivot between the interests of various stakeholders. Entwined within the EAPA (2009) Code of Ethics is the Kantian stance that we hold a rational duty to willingly comply. However, in an everyday pragmatic sense, ‘What are the benefits for ME ?’. This paper will present a case that ethical codes offer the practitioner a salient guide to inform and protect the EAP from issues such as boundary management, personal stress, and an array of stakeholder conflicts. Further to this, we will argue that awareness and training in ethical virtues are fully integral with Continuous Professional Development. Finally, we shall apply psychological theory to argue that awareness of ethics form the foundation to the EAP’s sense of professional identity as well as present a valid source of personal pride and satisfaction in EAP practice.

  Download

• Elaborating upon the impact of job search knowledge on perceived job seeking self efficacy.

  J. Dixon

  The 40th Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland, Athlone, Co. West Meath, Rep. of Ireland.; 01/2010

  Download

• Positive Psychology and it's Practical Application in the Reemployment coaching context; Why does it make a Difference ?

  J. Dixon

  The 40th Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland., Athlone, Co. West Meath, Rep. of Ireland.; 01/2010

  Download

• The Impact of Extroversion on Preferred Job Seeking Methods in a Recession.

  J. Dixon

  The 40th Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland., Athlone, Co. West Meath, Rep. of Ireland.; 01/2010

  Download

• A Non-counsellors Approach to Counselling: Solution Focused Brief Therapy, a Practical Tool in the Re-employment Practitioners Armoury.

  J. Dixon

  The 39th Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland, Wexford, Co. Wexford; 01/2009

  Download

• ‘What am I good at ?’ A Qualitative Investigation of the Everyday Awareness of Subjective Competency Amongst Job Seekers.

  j. Dixon

  The 39th Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland, Wexford, Co. Wexford; 01/2009

  Download

• Vocational Competency Training: A Therapeutic Intervention for Clients with Additional Needs.

  J. Dixon, M. McGrath

  The Psychological Society of Ireland Annual Conference, Tullow, Ireland; 11/2008

  Subjective competency, or metacognitive awareness is regarded as the process underlying self efficacy (Dixon, 2008a). Essentially, it stands as our awareness of our skills, competencies, and what we affectively know of ourselves. This awareness determines self efficacy, beliefs which are widely cite... [more] Subjective competency, or metacognitive awareness is regarded as the process underlying self efficacy (Dixon, 2008a). Essentially, it stands as our awareness of our skills, competencies, and what we affectively know of ourselves. This awareness determines self efficacy, beliefs which are widely cited as the principle variable in re-employment activity (Eden & Aviram, 1993). In contrast, a loss of self esteem, and depression has long been associated with unemployment (Ellis & Taylor, 1983, &, Caplan, Vinokur, Price, & van Ryn, 1989), and, the tendency to self harm (Ostamo, Lahelma, & Lönnqvist, 2002, McGrath, 2006). The objective of the investigation was to assist 13 unemployed clients with mild – moderate affective disorders in day care (8 Male, 5 Female). The 4 week ‘Job Club’ programme predicted the development of self efficacy (Bandura, 1982), and learned optimism (Seligman & Csikszentmihaly, 2002) via a bespoke training programme. A self reporting 12 item scale was used to capture pre / post intervention data for t-test analysis. Client ratings of job seeking self efficacy, locus of control, and subjective competency, returned statistically significant measures of development. The findings support ‘duel function’ therapeutic approaches where the esteem building aim is embedded in a contextual form of intervention.

  Download

• Skill Amnesia: Is Unemployment Learned, and Confidence Lost Through Experiences of Work.

  J. Dixon

  The Psychological Society of Ireland Annual Conference, Tullow, Ireland; 11/2008

  Skill Amnesia is proposed as the opposite of subjective competency, the cognitive ability to perceive our skill repertoire mediated via metacognitive awareness. These percepts create self efficacy beliefs found to be significant in the job seeking process (Eden & Aviram, 1993). The current hypot... [more] Skill Amnesia is proposed as the opposite of subjective competency, the cognitive ability to perceive our skill repertoire mediated via metacognitive awareness. These percepts create self efficacy beliefs found to be significant in the job seeking process (Eden & Aviram, 1993). The current hypothesis predicted that conditions of employment may mediate future beliefs of employability. 167 unemployed participants completed measures for self efficacy, self esteem, subjective competence, and locus of control. When analysed against ratings of workplace experiences, ANOVA results found significant interactions suggesting certain experiences of employment could affect future unemployment duration and perceptions of employability. The findings raise questions regarding management practices, reciprocal conduct in the worker : employer relationship, the organisation of work tasks, and the sources of occupational mental health.

  Download

• Re-Employment Psychology: The Synthesis of Cognitive, Social, and Organisational Psychology.

  J. Dixon

  The Psychological Society of Ireland, Tullow, Ireland; 11/2008

  Numerous psychological studies have exposed the pathologies related to unemployment. Little is known of what psychological theories apply to enhance ‘Re-employment’ and organisational entry from the job seekers perspective. Literature reviews indicate very little empirical evidence for the actual va... [more] Numerous psychological studies have exposed the pathologies related to unemployment. Little is known of what psychological theories apply to enhance ‘Re-employment’ and organisational entry from the job seekers perspective. Literature reviews indicate very little empirical evidence for the actual validity of job seeking advice available to the general public. This paper proposes the necessity to consider reemployment as a separate discipline to the ideographic approach of career guidance counsellors. This position paper intends to highlight the necessity for applied research, and propose the consideration of re-employment psychology as an important domain in Irish society. Insights and findings from cognitive, social, and organisational psychology will be presented to demonstrate what advances to job seeking / interview techniques can be achieved through the application of psychological research.

  Download

• Managing The Impression Of the CV Résumé.

  J Dixon

  01/2003

  Degree: M.Sc. Work & Organisational Psychology

  Supervisor: Dr Finian Buckley