Empirical studies

The article presents the results of a study of the relationship of parent-child relationships teenagers and young men with the status of identity in professional identity. Revealed that the predominant identity statuses in the professional sphere in youth are achieved identity, moratorium and predestination; in adolescence — a moratorium, predestination and diffuse identity. Significant differences in the nature of the parent-child relationship in groups with statuses predestination, achieved identity, moratorium and diffused identity. For teenagers and young men with low status (diffuse identity, predestination) is characterized by the experience of the integrity of the relationship with the family in direct command of a parent and low autonomy of children. Adolescents with the status of the moratorium relationships with parents are characterized by a high level of autonomy and differentiation from the parental home often combined with high conflict and confrontation. Integration with family at a sufficiently high autonomy, respect the opinions of parents of typical teenagers and young men with the status of achieved identity. The gender specificity, reflecting the different roles of the mother and father in the formation of identity among girls and boys is revealed. The results show the decisive role of the father in the formation of identity statuses for both gender groups.

This study focuses on the perception of own career on the stage of its completion. Respondents: 30 women and men at the age from 52 to 67 years, professionals in different fields of professional activities. Research methods: interviewing, questionnaires, more options for methods of “Ranking of life values” and “Incomplete sentences”. The resulting materials were subjected to qualitative thematic analysis. The main priorities of respondents in this age group, the strategy and motivation of their professional conduct, resources for employment, and requests for psychological assistance are identified. External and internal factors influencing the formation of strategy of behavior in retirement are established. The material characterizing the image of career in the final stage can be used in psychological consulting practice.

The phenomenon of presence is the subjective sense of realistic interaction with the virtual environment. Presence is an important factor in the effectiveness of the use of virtual reality systems. On the occurrence and severity of presence phenomenon influenced by both technological and psychological factors, including cognitive control. Special influence on the emergence of the phenomenon of presence can have a system of monitoring and correction of errors associated with detection and neutralization of differences between expected and actual results of the cognitive activities. It examined the extent to which the effectiveness of monitoring and error correction (estimated through the effects of slowing down after an error and adapt to the conflict) is related to the aspects of the presence phenomenon. For high-immersive (CAVE) and lowimmersive (standard display) environments, it was shown that (1) efficient error correction prevents the negative physical effects associated with the working in a virtual environment, and (2) effective detection of cognitive conflicts prevent the emergence of the phenomenon of presence through detecting unnatural virtual scenario. In low-immersive environment conflict detection also prevented the formation of emotional involvement in a virtual scenario.

The article discusses the main ideas and provisions of the phenomenological-hermeneutic approach to professional development as opposed objectivism psycho-diagnostic methods (tests) and formative approaches. The principle of subjectivity/authorship and moral relationship to ongoing activities are introduces. Available psycho-technics guides and supports the efforts of the “adept” (people who chose the field of their future professional activity) on personal relation to the objectives and the course of his professional development.

The article presents the results of a study of ideas about life success of teenagers. The sample of our study consisted of 500 students of 10-11 classes of the Moscow schools and gymnasiums. The greatest attention is paid to the analysis of success in the profession on the implementation of subjects of projective techniques. The analysis of examples of successful people has allowed highlighting the most significant areas of professional activity, as well as basic assessment criteria of success. So, the most popular examples of successful people for teenagers are the businessmen who have earned the status with the development of computer technologies, representatives of show-business and politics. Analysis of representations of teenagers about their future in 15 years allowed identifying criteria that are most important for the adolescents in the assessment of the future success of their professional activities. Gender differences in perceptions of professional and life success are analyzed.

The article discusses the possibility of using the subjective semantics as a basis for the proposed E.A. Klimov classification of occupations based on the differentiation of working relations of man to the objects of the world. In the scientific school of E.Yu. Artemieva this classification is understood as a typology of a replacement reality, which is revealed through the ways of free descriptions of objects and metaphorical interpretation of semantic differential scales. Correlation of semantics with a professional affiliation will allow us to predict the degree of conformity of man to the world of professions.

The Young Adults group (N=115) was chosen for the research. The qualitative data analysis has shown practically no significant correlations between self­actualization and egocentricity. Nevertheless, there were a few moderate and weak correlations between egocentricity and few self­actualization test scales what make us to consider self­actualization and egocentricity as complicated phenomena, which are connected with various factors such as labor activity, gender and age.

The article represented the results of the comparative study of personal characteristics of adolescents with and without experience of sexual relations. Sample: 405 students (Saint­Petersburg) at the age of 14—16 years: 228 sexually active (128 boys and 100 girls) and 177 non-sexually active (100 boys and 77 girls). Used techniques: “Teenagers about parents” by L . Wasserman, I. Gorkova, E. Romycin; Multi­factor personality inventory “FPI” (form B) by I. Fainberg, H. Sarg, R. Gampel; Gordon Personal Inventory; “Self­actualization test” in the adaptation of the Y. Aleshina, L. Gozman, M. Zaika, M. Croz; The test­questionnaire self­relation by V. Stolin, “The analysis of family relations” by E. Eidemiller, V. Ustitskis and author’s questionnaire. All the adolescents with sexual relations are distinguished from non­sexually active cause of high sociability, tendency to dominance and vigor. An additional factor that provokes a sexual relationship is an emotional distance from parents.

It was shown in our previous researches, that such styles of parenting, like overprotection and overexactingness, contribute to formation of three children abnormal personality types: oriented on external help, oriented on compliance of own behaviour with other people requirements and oriented on protest against such compliance. These personality types are the most important factors influencing the occurrence of parent­child problems. The present study included adults (n=54; age 18—40), who asked for psychological consultation with their personal problems. The analysis of consulting cases detected that 42 of 54 clients (78%) were educated with overprotection or overexactingness style of parenting in their childhood. These clients had the same abnormal personality types that had the children from families of psychological consultation clients with parent­child problems, educated with the same parenting style. It was shown, that abnormal personality types, formed in childhood, influenced the formation of large amount of personal problems in adulthood."

Article presents results of empirical study focused on cultural differences in preferences of conflict interaction tactics in conflicts with high power and equal partner, in interpersonal and business relations. Hypotheses: Characteristics of conflict situation (type of relations, differences in social status, content of conflict) influence on manifestation of cultural differences in conflict interaction. Sample: 125 Dutch students (mean age: 21.62), 146 Russian students (mean age: 20.15). Method: “Conflict situations” (Sinelnikova, Wigboldus). Participants were presented with conflict stories in business and interpersonal context with equal and high power partners. Research has shown that characteristics of conflict situation: power distance, type of relations, content of conflict situation, influenced on manifestation of cultural differences in conflict tactics preferences). Results demonstrated that Russian students expressed their feelings and confronted more in family conflict, Dutch students – in conflicts, initiated by violation of social norms. Russians and Dutch students demonstrated equal readiness to cooperate with partner in conflict. However Dutch students preferred direct tactics, and Russian students preferred irony.

The paper presents the analysis of developmental changes in executive functions in early school­children. 117 first­-graders (7.62±0.45 y.o.) 86 third­-graders (9.64±0.4 y.o.) participated in the study. Qualitative neuropsychological assessment and computer­based tests were used to evaluate the development of executive functions. The comparison of results in first and third graters reveals a significant improvement of temporal characteristics and accuracy of performance of the tests. The results may be evidence of the significant development of executive functions in the primary school age. In addition it is shown that the results of neuropsychological assessment and computer methods may be used as reliable predictors of learning disabilities

The article contains an overview of the program developed by the authors for improving reliability of students’ performance in the exam situation by means of conscious self-regulation. It also provides the results of the program’s efficiency experimental verification on the sample of 57 students (17-18 years) of the 11th grade of a Moscow Secondary School. The multiscale questionnaire “Learning Activity Self-Regulation Style” (SSUD-M, Morosanova) and Russian adaptation of Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI, Spilberger) were used for diagnostics. The obtained data analysis revealed statistically significant changes in the regulatory parameters and anxiety indicators in the experimental and control groups (29 and 28 pers. accordingly). Experimental group demonstrated increased value of regulatory parameters of modelling, evaluation, flexibility, reliability, responsibility, and general level of self-regulation as well as decreased values of disquiet and general anxiety levels. Comparing the academic grades, primary and final state exam marks showed, that experimental group demonstrated higher reliability of educational actions than control group. The effectiveness of the practical application of program for developing conscious self-regulation as a means of improving the reliability of educational actions in exam situations considered to be experimentally proved.

Purpose of the study: to highlight the conditions social environment, identified (understood) the representatives of different social groups as resources success subject throughout his professional career. Results of the survey are analyzed in the article 147 respondents (managers, accountants, entrepreneurs) aged 31-47 years, m=39.2 research questionnaire dynamics of professional formation of the subject. The survey was conducted in 2010-2013 years in situations of paid forms of vocational training. The Division of the sample into groups (male/female managers/professionals) and use compare and multiple regression analysis revealed allocated specific social groups in the structure and dynamics of mainstreaming the environment as resources. The study revealed that the respondents holding senior positions (executives) range of non-subjective resources is quite wide and variable. Consistent actual different environments as a professional development resource for professional actors (from 20 to 65 years) carries a high level of professionalism, its dynamic growth and long preservation with social success generally. From less realized respondents’ range of non-subjective conditions as resources relatively narrow; they are characterized by a reliance on parent resources.

This paper presents the results of empirical research of the interaction between career motivation, self-monitoring and generational differences. Data were collected from 142 full-time newcomers of two organizations in Saint-Petersburg. The following questionnaires were used: the self-monitoring scale developed by Snyder M.; the career anchors scale developed by Schein E., which was extended by the patriotism scale from the culture appeal questionnaire developed by Snetkov V. as well as the organizational commitment questionnaire developed by Porter. L. Results indicate the self-monitoring and career anchors significant differences among three generations: Baby Boomers (1946—1964), Generation X (1965—1983), Generation Y (1984 or later) as well as their influence for on-boarding outcomes. This research shows that Baby Boomers and Generation X have more adaptable characteristics toward achieving organizational socialization. Generation Y is harder to integrate into corporate structures as this group has own social attitudes and assumptions about organization life.

The article presents an empirical study of the depth of thinking - personal characteristics reflecting the process of understanding of the problem; object – the solution of problem situation with artistic content, actualizing productive thinking; goal – to identify the level of problem solving in correlation with its success. The theoretical basis – the ideas of Gestalt theory and the Matyushkin’s theory of problem situations about productive thinking and evaluation its success. The study shows that the depth of thinking reflects the levels of understanding of the sense of artistic works – from a misunderstanding to clear and explicit understanding of the sense of the work in accordance with the author’s intention. The levels are the basis for evaluating the success of problem solving. From the object of thinking the depth is determined by artistic genre: the greatest depth of thinking requires dramatic genre. There is the positive correlation of the success of the solutions for two types of problem situation with artistic content – understanding of the sense of the film and the story by fragments – with the dramatic and comedic content. There is negative correlation for the success of the solutions of problem situations of emotionally opposite genres – comic and dramatic – for two types of problem situations.

Four-dimensional spherical model of emotions was built with metric multidimensional scaling method. This model simultaneously describes emotional expressions in the oral human speech (based on the samples of the word “Yes”, spoken with different expressions) and vocalizations of rhesus macaque monkeys in the human listener’s perception. Based on statistical criteria, number of dimensions in the space of the perception of emotional human speech and monkey vocalizations samples was defined to be equal to 4. Stimuli points in the space are positioned in almost equal distance from the center of the hypersphere. Model space axes were interpreted in regard to the contents of human emotions. Orientation of perception of monkey vocalization samples space axes was conducted in a formal procedure based on direct experimental data — cross-assessment of the differences between some human speech samples and all monkey vocalizations samples. As a result, all studied monkey vocalizations samples were quantitatively presented in a unified system of the characteristics, defined for human emotions, and received an anthropomorphic interpretation. Obtained results are not controversial to the data from animal behavior observation and expert analysis of their vocalizations range. We revealed the similarity between emotional expressions in human speech and monkey vocalization range, which, in turn, demonstrates the relation of human and monkey emotions.

Along with conventional notions about the positive influence pets on the development and psychological well-being of children, an increasing number of investigations evaluate the role of pets in the life of the modern urban family more carefully. Existing contradictions can be resolved via submission on pets as integral and important parts of the entire family system: the emergence of pets in the family may be associated with the maintenance and regulation of its homeostasis. We tested this assumption in the empirical research, which objectives were: 1) identification of the association between the age of the child/ siblings and appearance pets in families; 2) correlation of the data with the stages of family life cycle. Based on the data obtained from the survey (n=658) among students, conducted among first-year students of the faculty of psychology of Moscow State University and among the clients of the veterinary surgeon in 2008—2012 (n=75), we have analyzed the dependence of the frequency of occurrence of pets, which respondents considered “family member”, on the age of child/children in the family at the time of their purchase. According our findings pets’ appearance in a family with the only child happen when the child is 7, 9, 13, 16 years old, in a family with two children it happens when the second child is 7, 9, 13 years old and (or) the first one is 12—16 years old). These peaks happen when families have normal crises, not related with the changing family structure, but with the other factors, particularly with necessity contacting with social surrounding or with strict changing demands of psychical development of the child. The peaks of appearance pets in a family which were found by us can be evidence of including pets in regulation homeostasis of family life.

The results of additional analysis of previously published research are presented. The main topic of this research is stable patterns of volitional selfregulation,by the example of comparison of differences of volitional traits’ clusters and their intensity in the children behavior until 11 year-olds. Significant age-related changes in volitional sphere were demonstrated. It is shown that there are individually-typological features at early stages of formation of volitional sphere; volitional self-regulation development is a partial process; there are two ways of development of volitional traits (“harmonious” and “one-way” type). Quantity of children with “harmonious” combination of volitional traits is increase towards 2th-3th school grade and also the importance of personal forms of regulation of activity is increase to 4th class.

The article presents the results of applying of existential criterion of normal and abnormal personality to assess the personality of the overprotecting and overexacting parents in 176 families, who visited psychological consultation. It is shown that the styles of parenting “overprotection” and “overexactingness” indicate the one-sidedness of parental position in the education of their children concerning the certain existential dichotomies. Overprotecting parent’s position is one-sided towards existential dichotomy help and autonomy. Overexacting parent’s position is one-sided simultaneously towards the three classical existential dichotomies: nature and culture, self-actualization and conventional values, determinism and self-determination. Test for assessment of interpersonal relations by Sobchik L.N. was used to identify the characteristics of interpersonal relationships progenitors with parents in childhood. M. Luscher’s test was used to identify the characteristics of parent personalities. The results of these tests allowed to suppose that such one-sided educational positions of the overprotecting and overexacting parents has been formed under the influence of “excessively interfering” educational progenitors positions, which were irrationally assigned and later reproduced in the education of their children in the form of overprotection and overexactingness. Pointed out special aspects of the educational positions of the overprotecting and overexacting parents allow us in accordance with existential criterion to conclude about the abnormality of their personality.