Российский психологический журнал (Mar 2022)
Complementary model of personality self-determination
Abstract
Introduction. The relevance of studying the phenomenon of self-determination is substantiated by the compliance of this research problem with two actively developing areas of personality psychology – the psychology of a change and the psychology of a possible. The variety of manifestations of personality self-determination, the complexity and uniqueness of this phenomenon necessitate the generalization of existing theoretical developments, ideas and concepts, as well as accumulated empirical material. Modern Russian authors formulate theoretical prerequisites for the study of self-determination in the framework of the subject-activity approach, however, providing empirical research, they are often based on the methodology of foreign colleagues. The originality of the present work consists in the search for new methodological foundations for the study of personality self-determination. Theoretical justification. The complexity and ambiguity of the phenomenon of self-determination enhance the differentiation of theoretical approaches to its description. The researchers focus on different levels of manifestations of self-determination: the nature-conditioned ability to self-organization and the innate need for autonomy of the individuum, the processes of self-regulation of behavior and activity by the Subject, the mechanisms of the formation of subjectity and the development of the Self, as well as personality’s ways to realize a freedom and an intentionality. Along with a wide variety of theories and concepts, there is a deficiency of systemic and complex models. Results. The authors of the article first proposed the complementary model of self-determination, which allows to integrate existing theoretical approaches to research through a level-by-level consideration of individ’s, subject’s and personality characteristics. The basic level of spontaneous (functional) self-determination corresponds to the principles of self-organization of complex open non-equilibrium systems with a naturally conditioned ability to self-deterministic behavior. The second level of purposeful or “activity-based” self-determination demonstrates the role of conscious planning, volitional effort and conscious choice as a tool for achieving goals and self-regulation of the Subject. Finally, the third, highest level of meaningful self-determination describes the value and moral self-regulation associated with the implementation of meaningful choices. Discussion. The research presents a new look at the scientific problem of personality self-determination. The complementary model reflects a complex multilevel system of self-determination, the evolution of its mechanisms in the process of ontogenesis from the basic psychological needs of the individuum to the complex processes of meaningful self-determination of the personality.
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