Abstract:

The study of self-development, self-realization, self-actualization, realization of the inherent potential of the individual is a complex and controversial problem of psychology. This problem is of particular relevance for the development of personality in the modern conditions of growing international tension amid the previous globalization. The main purpose of the presented research is to compare the level of self-actualization among modern university students from the EU countries and Russia. Total sample included 80 bachelor students: 40 (50% male and 50% female) students aged 18 to 22 from the EU countries universities (France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Lithuania), and 40 (50% male and 50% female) students aged 18 to 22 from the Russian Federation. To measure the students’ level of self-actualization Short Index of Self-actualization (SISA) by A. Jones & R. Crandal was used in this study: original English version for EU students and Russian adaptation for Russian students. The SISA was developed based on the longer Personal Orientation Inventory Index (POI) by E. L. Shostrom and is designed to provide a shorter scale that correlates significantly with POI. The SISA includes 15 statements that relate to a person's beliefs, attitudes, feelings, and emotions. The descriptive statistics methods and the Mann–Whitney U test for two independent samples were used for quantitative statistical analysis. Considering the results received throughout the comparison of two samples of university students, it is clearly seen that the majority of respondents have demonstrated approximately the same mean in the perspective of level of self-actualization. Additionally, the results have not identified any significant differences according to the gender of study participants. Thus, it can be emphasized that the research findings demonstrate much more similarities than differences in the level of self-actualization among students from both the European Union and Russia. The obtained research results will be useful in the area of university education and in the framework of international scientific co-operation as well. This information allows to receive a more accurate understanding of the mental state of international students and their propensity for self-actualization.

Keywords:

Self-actualization, education, globalization, stress, personal orientation.