Life Without Work: Understanding Social Class Changes and Unemployment Through Theoretical Integration

Unemployment is a stark reality in today's economic climate, and many Americans report a fear of loss or decrease in social status as a result of unexpected unemployment. Despite vocational psychology's emphasis on work as a domain of life, very little exploration on how social class shifts impact workers has been conducted. One way to rectify the current gaps in the literature is to consider the integration of multiple theories that address different aspects of social class identity and the role of work in people's lives. Intersectional approaches, the Social Class Worldview Model, and the Psychology Working perspectives are discussed in this article as applicable to life without work, particularly in relation to unemployment among underserved populations. Multidisciplinary literature is highlighted and integrated to inform the current understanding of these problems. Implications for psychologists and career counselors conducting research, practice, and public policy are discussed.