THE INFLUENCE OF PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY SPECIFICS AND PERSONALITY TRAITS ON SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCES IN WORK

Abstract

The aim of our original research was to determine the combined influence of the specific characteristics of professional activity and the personal traits of specialists on their subjective experiences during work. The study participants were professional theatre actors, athletes, and programmers. In this article, we present the results with a focus on theatre actors. The theoretical framework includes A. N. Leontiev’s activity theory, M. Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory, W. Schaufeli’s theory of work engagement, and D. A. Leontiev’s combinatorial model of experiences. Our central hypothesis was that the specific nature of professional activity determines the structure of relationships between experiences and personal characteristics of specialists. The results indicate that while similar experiences arise during the professional activities of athletes, actors, and programmers, they are associated with different personal traits. This suggests that individuals adapt to professional challenges in ways that optimize their internal state. However, it is also possible that individuals choose a profession for which their personal characteristics are inherently more suited. Experience in leisure activities appears to serve a compensatory function relative to those in professional activities. Practical implications of results may be realized in selection and assessment, psychological counseling and teaching of specialists.