Personal and existential-psychological resources of form tutors working with gifted children

Introduction. The article deals with the problem of identifying the resources of teachers – form tutors, focused on working with gifted students. This problem is considered in the context of the methodological shift from the classical to the post-non-classical scientific paradigm, from the “deficit model” to the model of “success and resilience” (S. Maddi, Ph. Hiver). A review of modern research on the problems of professiogenesis of form tutors is carried out.

Aim. The aim of the present research was to empirically test the possibilities of a resource approach to the study of personal and existential-psychological aspects of the activities of teachers working with gifted children.

Methodology and research methods. The methodological framework of the research is based on the provisions of the subject-activity, existential-psychological approaches to the development of the personality, to its being formation. Based on the analysis of the literature, personality traits (professional consciousness, creativity, a picture of the world, ego-identity, resilience, and others) are identified. These personality characteristics can be considered as the resources for professional development of teachers – form tutors. The severity of various types of reflection and their ratio are determined on the basis of a differential reflexivity questionnaire by A. V. Karpov and V. V. Ponomareva. The profile of ego states was built using the transactional questionnaire of D. Jongeward (in V. K. Kalinenko’s and V. A. Petrovsky’s adaptation). The Existence Scale developed by A. Langle, K. Orgler (revised by S. V. Krivtsova, I. N. Majnina and A. Yu. Vasanov) was applied for the diagnosis of indicators of existential performance as a person’s quality of life associated with a feeling of fullness of life with a particular meaning, free choice and responsibility. The features of hardiness and a method for solving the existential dilemma were identified using the S. Muddy’s Hardiness Survey (modified by D. A. Leontiev, E. I. Rasskazova).

Results. The outcomes of an empirical study of the ratio of personal and existential resources of the professional activity of teachers working with gifted students are demonstrated. Significant differences were revealed in the manifestation of hardiness and reflexivity in relation to form tutors with different types of personality ego-structures. Factor analysis made it possible to identify two factors, which demonstrate the existential-psychological and personal resources of the activity of form tutors working with gifted students: “existential choice of a new professional experience” and “detachment from externally given rhythms and attitudes”.

Scientific novelty. The empirical capabilities of the existential-psychological, subject-activity and resource-based approaches to the study of the problems of the psychology of giftedness and the professiogenesis of teachers are tested.

Practical significance. The demonstrated results can be used as part of a programme for developing the resources of professional activity of teachers working with gifted students.

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