Self-actualization of the individual and the meaning of life orientations of civil servant economists

SELF-ACTUALIZATION OF THE PERSONALITY AND THE MEANING OF LIFE ORIENTATIONS OF CIVIL SERVANTS-ECONOMISTS

To study the personality orientation of economists, the Self-Actualization Test (SAT) and the Life-Meaning Orientations Test (LMT) were used. Sixty people participated in the study, divided into two groups. The first group included subjects with less than fifteen years of experience; the second group, with more than fifteen years of experience. It was found that the sample as a whole is characterized by an average level of self-actualization, self-respect, and self-acceptance. The second group differs from the first in its tendency toward a high level of self-actualization. The first group showed low scores on the following scales: Behavioral Flexibility, Creativity, and Sensitivity. Specialists in both groups are characterized by a high level of meaning in life, the presence of goals, and an acceptance of the life process as interesting and filled with meaning. They have sufficient self-confidence and a belief in the ability to influence their lives. The paper presents the results of a correlation analysis between the indicators of the two methods.

Keywords: Self-actualization of the individual, values, self-respect, self-acceptance, behavioral flexibility, sociability, creativity, abilities, cognitive needs, purpose and process of life, civil servants.

T. Mironova

THE SELF-ACTUALIZATION OF PERSONALITY AND SENSE LIFE ORIENTATIONS OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES- THE ECONOMISTS

 

In the research of the economists' trend personality there were used tests of Self-actualization and Sense life orientations. Sixty persons took part in the research. They were divided into two groups: the first group joined the tested persons with the length of service less than fifteen years; the second group – with the length of service more than fifteen years. It was established that in general this selection was characterized by the middle level of personality's self-actualization, respectful attitude to oneselves and acceptance of their own personalities. The second group was differed from the first one by the tendency to the high level of self-actualization. In the first group the results revealed low values on the scales as Flexibility of Behaviour, Creativity and Sensitivity. It was typical for the two groups the high level of life's comprehension, the presence of purpose, acceptance of life process as an interesting and meaningful one. The results of the correlation analysis between two methodologies were presented in the research.

Keywords: self-actualization, values, self-respect, self-acceptance, flexibility of behavior, contactness, creative trend, abilities, cognitive needs, life process and purpose of life, public employees.

 

 

Personality orientation is the most important component of personality structure. Personality orientation is understood as a system of dominant motives that motivate a person to complete assigned tasks and achieve their life goals. The problem of personality orientation was considered by B. G. Ananyev, L. I. Bozhovich, A. G. Kovalev, N. D. Levitov, V. N. Myasishchev, V. S. Merlin, K. K. Platonov, S. L. Rubinstein and others. In the monograph "Professional Orientation of the Personality" [4], we examined the structural and substantive characteristics of professional orientation and its dynamics in students mastering the profession of "Social Work Specialist". We developed a model of professional orientation in future professionals and conducted an experimental study of this personality formation. This model represents a complex unity of structural components that are closely interrelated: emotional, cognitive, behavioral, need-motivational, value-semantic, prospective-goal, and empathy. It has been established that the contribution of individual components to the stability of the professional orientation structure varies. In the structural-functional model of an individual's professional orientation, the value-semantic component plays a system-forming role [Ibid.]. The stability of an individual's professional orientation is ensured by the subject's conscious attitude toward their future profession as a value, as a means of creative self-realization.

Any profession places specific demands on the individual's personal characteristics: focus, preparedness, individual psychological characteristics of mental processes that are professionally specific, abilities, character traits, and even temperament [6]. Meeting these requirements allows the individual to be successful in their field.

The profession of economist will never lose its relevance as long as market relations exist in society. Economists working in the field of public and municipal finance perform many complex activities, in particular, they study relevant current legislation. Such as, for example, the Budget, Tax and Civil Codes, monitor changes in legislation, develop regulatory legal acts (laws, regulations, orders), forecast future budget revenues, plan budget policy, plan, distribute and allocate budget funds between budgets of various levels (federal, regional, municipal), account for and verify the targeted spending of budget funds, develop various economic models, etc. In their professional activities, economists develop and develop the following professionally important qualities: economic thinking, focus on the matter, a responsible attitude to work, a high level of stability and concentration in work, discipline, accuracy, etc. [3; 6]. At the current stage of Russian society's development, special attention should be paid to workers in the economic sector in light of the ongoing global economic crisis, the imposition of economic sanctions by a number of foreign countries against Russia, as well as our country's retaliatory measures against them, and the ongoing reform of our country's economic potential. The creative, adequate, and accurate work of economists is directly linked to their focus on the task at hand, responsibility, a high level of competence and professionalism, and an awareness of civic values [3].

A. Maslow, a representative of humanistic psychology, studied a healthy, harmonious personality. He developed a hierarchy of needs, which distinguishes a number of levels: physiological needs, the need for security, social needs, the need for self-esteem, the need for personal development, self-realization, and self-actualization. According to Maslow, until the lower needs are satisfied, the higher needs cannot be actualized, despite the possible awareness of the latter by the subject. Many people experience a "neurosis of existence" - a misunderstanding by the subject of the meaning of his existence, his life, and suffering from the awareness of this. The need for self-actualization of the individual is understood by him as the desire to become who he wants to be. A person who has reached this highest level achieves the full disclosure of his abilities, his personal potential. The concept of self-actualization means the maximum realization of all human potential, an adequate perception of the people around him, reality, as well as his place in the world [7; 8].

The purpose of the study: characteristics of the personality orientation of regional civil servants-economists, taking into account their work experience.

The study sample consisted of 60 specialists with higher education in economics working at the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Buryatia. The entire sample was divided into two groups: Group 1 – individuals with less than 15 years of experience; Group 2 – individuals with more than 15 years of experience. The average age of the participants was 39.

The following psychodiagnostic methods were used: Self-actualization test (SAT) by E. Shostrom, adapted by Yu. E. Aleshina, L. Ya. Gozman and others [5]; Life-Meaning Orientations Test (MMO) by J. Crambaugh and L. Makholik, adapted by D. A. Leontiev [2].

Let us consider the results of the study using the SAT method.

The entire sample of economists showed high scores on the following SAT scales: Self-Respect (Sr) (55 T-scores), Self-Acceptance (Sa) (54), Concepts of Human Nature (Nc) (53.5), Time Competence (Tc) (50), Sociability (49.5), Spontaneity (S) (49.5), Value Orientations (SAV) (49), Support (I) (49). This indicates that civil servants are characterized by an average level of self-actualization. They are able to feel the continuity of their past, present, and future, i.e., they see their lives as holistic and share the values typical of a self-actualizing personality. They demonstrate an average degree of independence in their actions and strive to be guided by their own attitudes and principles in life. A high level of self-esteem is characteristic of the "average economist". They are able to appreciate their strengths and positive character traits, accept themselves as they are, and tend to perceive human nature as generally positive. They are capable of thoughtful, purposeful action. They exhibit a moderate ability to spontaneously and directly express their emotions in social settings and to establish connections with others.

Professionals with over 15 years of experience have high scores on the following scales: Self-Respect (Sr) (56 T-scores); Self-Acceptance (Sa) (55); Concepts of Human Nature (Nc) (55). This indicates that they possess a high level of self-respect, accept themselves as they are, regardless of their assessment of their strengths and weaknesses, and tend to perceive human nature as generally positive.

They showed a tendency toward high scores on the following scales: Time Competence (Tc) (53 T-scores); Value Orientations (SAV) (52 T); Spontaneity (S) (50); Sociability (C) (50). This indicates the subjects' ability to live "in the present," that is, to experience the present moment in its entirety, to see their lives as a whole, feeling the continuity of the past, present, and future. The subjects showed a tendency toward a high level of self-actualization. They share the values that are characteristic of a self-actualizing personality. They are not afraid to behave naturally and uninhibitedly, are able to directly and spontaneously express their emotions, and have a good ability to establish deep connections with other people. This is due, in our opinion, to the fact that they deal not only with economic reality, but also, as civil servants, with people who do not work in the public sector. Consequently, the profession of a civil servant belongs to the «Person-to-Person» type of professions [1], which contributes to the development of communication skills and abilities in subjects involved in these types of activities.

The average T-score values were revealed for the following scales: Support (I) (49); Synergy (Sy) (49); Flexibility of Behavior (Ex) (47); Self-Sensitivity (Fr) (47); Acceptance of Aggression (A) (47); Cognitive Needs (Cog) (47). Consequently, they are characterized by an average level of development of independence, internal locus of control, flexibility in implementing their values in behavior, interacting with others, the ability to adequately respond to a changing environment, and reflexive abilities aimed at reflecting their own needs and feelings. The subjects have an average level of ability to accept their negative emotions and aggression as natural manifestations of human nature, the ability to perceive the world and people holistically, and to understand the interconnectedness of opposites, such as work and leisure, physical and spiritual. They have an average degree of expression of cognitive abilities and needs.

The lowest score in this group was found on the Creativity (C) scale (43 T-scores), which indicates a weak expression of the creative orientation of the individual.

Professionals with less than 15 years of experience showed a tendency toward high scores on the following CAT scales: Self-Respect (Sr) (54 T-points); Self-Acceptance (Sa) (53); Time Competence (Tc) (52). Consequently, individuals demonstrated a respectful attitude toward themselves, acceptance of their own personality, and a tendency to perceive human nature as generally positive.

The average T-score values were determined for the following scales: Support (I) (49); Spontaneity (S) (49); Contact (C) (49); Time Competence (Tc) (47); Synergy (Sy) (47); Acceptance of Aggression (A ) (47). The subjects are characterized by the following properties: an average degree of independence, autonomy, internal locus of control, the ability to spontaneously and directly express their emotional experiences, and to establish close contacts with people.

They show an average level of expression of the ability to live «in the present,» to feel to a certain extent the continuity of the past, present and future, i.e. they reflect their lives more or less holistically, which indicates an average degree of expression of self-actualization of the individual.

A tendency toward low scores was identified on the following SAT scales: Value Orientations (SAV) (46 T-scores); Cognitive Needs (Cog) (46). Consequently, professionals in Group 1 do not sufficiently share the values characteristic of a self-actualizing individual. Therefore, psychological work aimed at creating conditions for the development of self-actualization is necessary. They also lack a sufficiently expressed desire to understand the world around them.

Low T-scores were found on the following scales: Behavioral Flexibility (Ex) (45); Creativity (Cr) (45); and Sensitivity (Fr) (29). Employees with less than 15 years of experience demonstrated a low degree of self-actualization in their behavior, interactions with others, and ability to quickly and adequately respond to changing situations. They exhibited a certain rigidity when prompt responses to changing circumstances were required.

The subjects in this sample exhibited an insufficient level of creative development. Of course, in their professional work, economists perform many non-creative tasks, including algorithmic actions. At the same time, management should pay attention to the specialists' performance of creative tasks, their development of projects and models, economic forecasting, analysis, and so on. Advanced training is necessary in mastering new technologies and techniques in their subject area, as well as modern methods of mathematical and statistical processing of economic data. This will undoubtedly contribute to the development of creative direction and creative potential in the professional.

The lowest value was found on the Self-Sensitivity (Fr) scale (29 T-scores), indicating difficulties in recognizing one's own needs and feelings, and a low level of reflexive abilities in reflecting the need-motivational and affective spheres. Apparently, the profession leaves an imprint on the personality. The profession of an economist belongs to the "Man - sign system" type of professions [1]. Professionals are focused on understanding economic reality, rather than understanding the inner world, therefore they have difficulty navigating their own mental world. In connection with these difficulties, they can be given the following recommendations: familiarize themselves with popular psychological literature; participate in social and psychological trainings aimed at personal growth, as well as the correction of self-awareness, the emotional sphere, and creativity.

Let us consider the results of the study using the Life-Span Modeling (LSM) methodology. The typical «average economist» is characterized by the following life-purpose orientations: the presence in his life of goals related to the future, which give life meaning, direction and time perspective (34.5 points); the process of life is perceived as interesting and filled with meaning (31.5 points); satisfaction with one’s own self-realization (26.5); the idea of oneself as an individual capable of making free choices in building one’s life taking into account one’s goals and ideas about the meaning of existence (23.5); the conviction that a person can consciously control one’s life, freely make decisions and implement them (30) [3].

As the data in Table 1 show, specialists with more than 15 years of experience had high scores on all test scales.

Table 1

Average values on the scales of the Life-Savings Methodology for economists of the first and second groups (in points)

Group economics- comrade	Goals in life	Process life	Result- tiveness life	Locus control - I	Locus Control - Life	Overall indicator meaningful- ness of life
1	34	31	25	22	30	142
2	35	32	28	25	30	150

 

We found that professionals in Group 2 are characterized by a high level of meaning in life, a sense of purpose, and an acceptance of the process of life itself as interesting and meaningful. They evaluate life as productive and meaningful, are confident in their abilities, and possess sufficient freedom of choice and willpower to shape their lives in accordance with their goals.

Professionals in Group 1 with less than 15 years of experience have high scores on the Goal, Process, and Locus of Life scales (34, 31, and 30 out of a possible 42 points, respectively). These scores indicate the presence of goals that give their lives meaning and a focus on achieving them. They perceive life as interesting and emotionally rich, and they are characterized by the belief that they have control over their own lives.

The scores on the Result and Locus of Control – Self scales (25 and 22 out of a maximum possible 35 and 28, respectively) generally indicate a positive assessment by subjects of the stage of life they have gone through, a feeling of productivity in life, the presence of faith in themselves and their abilities, and the ability to exercise control over their life activities.

The next step involved conducting a correlation study, which revealed significant correlations between the Competence over Time (Tc) scale scores of the SAT methodology and the Locus of Control – Self and Locus of Control – Life scales of the Life Skills Test. A direct correlation was found between the Competence over Time (Tc) and Locus of Control – Self scores among economists in Group 1 (r=0.305; p≤0.05). Consequently, with increasing levels of self-actualization, individuals gain confidence in being in control of their own lives and possess sufficient freedom of choice in shaping their lives in accordance with their own goals and objectives. Professionals with less than 15 years of experience, as they achieve self-actualization in public service, gradually develop self-confidence and a sense of themselves as strong individuals capable of shaping their own lives.

A direct correlation was found between the Competence over Time (Tc) scale and the Locus of Control – Life scale in Group 1 (r = 0.465; p ≤ 0.01). We found that as the level of self-actualization develops, civil servants develop a firm belief in their ability to freely make decisions, implement them, and control their lives.

A strong direct correlation (r = 0.478; p ≤ 0.01) was found between the indicators of the Time Competence (Tc) and Locus of Control – Life scales among economists of the 2nd group with more than 15 years of experience.

Thus, civil servants who are economists with a sufficiently developed self-actualization of the individual possess the conviction that a person can manage his or her life.

 

Literature

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References

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