The topic of self-determination as an inevitable stage in the formation of personality and the basis on the path to human self-realization causes a lot of discussion among scientists. Research into this problem has been carried out in different directions. Scientists believe that self-determination should be considered in the narrow context of each area of a person’s life. Someone is convinced that personal self-determination lies at the head of all development vectors.
Of course, each theory has its own evidence and right to exist, but still, without the inner core and self-determination of a person as an individual, it is impossible to accurately choose one’s place in other areas of life.
In this article:
What is self-determinationTypes of self-determinationFeatures of moral self-determinationProfessional self-determinationThe role of individual self-determination in societyConditions for harmonious self-determination
What is self-determination
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Self-determination is a clear awareness of one’s own direction in relation to the world, one’s position in this world, as well as a life position that is formed on value and moral orientations. The problem of self-determination poses two tasks for a person:
- A person determines his individual meaning in life.
- Making plans and goals along your life path. Choosing the means to achieve your goals.
As a rule, self-determination, as a form of psychological development of the individual, is especially acute in adolescence. This period is important and turning point in the life of every individual. It’s like a suddenly grown-up child stands at a crossroads and decides which one to choose. Each of them, as in a fairy tale, promises benefits and a certain reward, but there will definitely be obstacles along the way.
Each path also invisibly determines who can do it and who should not try to go there. This is of course a metaphor, but it takes place in life in the form of prejudices and prejudices. Ideally, every person should have freedom of choice and determine their own path, and see themselves as a confident person.
Mindfulness and Self-Awareness
Self-determination is directly influenced by the formation of a person’s existential attitudes. It is during this period that a teenager asks questions about the meaning of life, his own existence and death. Self-determination is a psychological aspect and the basis for a person’s path to self-realization in life. In other words, understanding who “I am” and what I expect from life is already part of a person’s self-determination.
Problems of personal and life self-determination
Since the first two types of self-determination - personal and life - strongly interact with each other, the problems of these processes are common. It is no secret that personality traits and characteristics are formed throughout life, from birth. Some typical personality problems go back to childhood. Here are some of them.
- Everyone owes me / no one owes anyone anything
Adequate consciousness must be brought up from childhood within a clear framework of the relationship between duties and obligations. Relationships are built on the interconnection and balance of duty and responsibilities - they guide both a large society (the state), and a small one (for example, a family or a work team), and each individual. When this balance of duties and oughts is disturbed, problems arise.
Types of self-determination
It is worth saying that self-determination comes in different types and scientists are conducting interesting research on the topic of these psychological processes. The most important and interesting aspects of personal choice relate to the following types of self-determination:
- Religious.
- Social.
- Professional.
- Social – political.
- Family.
It is these areas of human life that many scientists highlight and study the individual’s choice in one direction or another. It is worth saying that not all types of self-determination fall on a young teenage head at one moment. The definition occurs naturally, as new information becomes available and a person is involved in a new area of activity.
So, for example, a teenager receives the right to vote from the age of 18; accordingly, his socio-political self-determination will not be acute at the age of 13 or 15. But its formation is already carried out through the accumulation of information from micro- and macrosociety. This means that the individual pays attention to the self-determination in this direction of his parents and relatives, friends and even his people.
Choice of profession
As a rule, mass professional self-determination of students occurs on the eve of graduation. The student crammed many different subjects, and this makes it possible to objectively evaluate himself and understand what is more difficult and what is easy.
It is often difficult for students to decide on a future profession, because many are based on several disciplines at the same time, while others have nothing to do with the school curriculum at all.
Career guidance trainings and classes come to their aid, where they can learn about new in-demand professions, compare them with their professional qualities and try to try on these roles.
Features of moral self-determination
Moral self-determination goes through a long process of formation. It is based on the value and semantic guidelines that the child already has. The foundation of morality and spiritual value is laid in a child’s Soul by its parents.
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The personal example of parents, friendly conversations with the child on the topic of morality, morality and decency have a profound impact on his value orientations. The sensitive age for the formation of morality in a person is, again, puberty.
Research on this topic is especially important, since the moral orientation of young people is the future of society, which means it’s worth paying attention now to who serves as their ideals and role model, what values and guidelines they choose.
Morality should be considered as a set of beliefs, standards, ideals and meanings that develop in an individual the need to live spiritually and morally. In psychology, this process is defined as a person’s moral orientation towards his own value system and the individual search for self-realization in life, in accordance with this system.
Features of moral self-determination are the following factors:
- Self-definition of oneself as the image “I am ideal.”
Finding ways to achieve this image.
- Determining the meanings and norms of morality in communication with other people.
- Determination of meanings in the system of the universe.
Each factor collectively influences the final result and will give its own “shade” to the development.
Professional self-determination
The choice of profession and the search for oneself in this world overwhelms a teenager after graduating from school. Despite the fact that already in high school there is active work on professional self-determination, many children still seem to go with the flow and make their choice under pressure from parents or society.
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In psychology, there are various tests and techniques that allow a teenager to better know himself and his direction. Career guidance techniques are able to outline certain areas of activity that are suitable for a person.
Freedom of choice should always exist, but since many teenagers do not take their choice of profession seriously and do not yet realize that it is time to make their choice of activity, which can affect their entire life, problems happen.
The following aspects characterize a person’s professional self-determination:
- The teenager is ready to independently and consciously master a new work activity in which he will have to realize himself.
- A person feels the need to search for his own meaning in one or another professional direction.
- Adequate assessment of one’s own capabilities and abilities for self-realization in a particular activity.
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It clearly shows that the basis of professional self-determination is the internal need for self-realization, and it is formed exclusively on personal self-determination.
Until the child is aware of his inner motives and motivations. Until he acts according to his values. On his way he will encounter difficulties with choosing a profession.
The importance of daily self-improvement
The key to success in any business is constant work on yourself. In any situation, a person must be able to analyze what he lacks to achieve his goal. It is very important to pay attention to self-education, read a lot, attend seminars and trainings. All of the above activities help increase intelligence and expand opportunities for self-realization.
Self-actualization allows you to make the most of your own capabilities and talents. This helps to achieve success in any activity; it must meet spiritual needs, generate profit and be useful to society.
A person who has taken the path of self-development can become the master of his life, which will help him gain independence from the opinions of other people, restrictions and stereotypes. This option allows you to make your own decisions and choices based on your own beliefs. Such people understand themselves and life and live it vividly.
The role of individual self-determination in society
We can safely say that all types of self-realization are closely connected, like a pyramid, with personal self-realization at the head. When a person makes his choice and acts according to internal values and guidelines, he cannot help but include in his system an internal orientation in relation to the world around him.
In other words, if a child has had the attitude since childhood that he is good and the world is good, then he will define himself in this world harmoniously. Negative attitudes: “I am good, and the world is bad” or “I am bad, the world is good,” or maybe even such an attitude: “I am bad and the world is bad,” then self-determination in society will be based on these attitudes.
A person, in the process of self-determination in society, is in search of social groups that correspond to its value guidelines. Social self-determination can manifest itself in both negative and positive forms.
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A person has freedom, and his internal orientation and involvement in activities can lead him to different groups, communities and teams.
Adolescence
Let's remember ourselves at this age. How many discoveries did we have to endure that seemed to be right before our eyes all the time? How many times have we suddenly, unexpectedly for ourselves, begun to look differently at all familiar and ordinary things?
Everything got worse when you yourself became the object of contemplation. We are taught to analyze our actions from childhood. The standard was adult instructions, an explanation of what is good and what is bad. Children under 10-11 years old, due to their age, are not prone to reflection; they cannot assess their mental state and do not yet know how to analyze their experiences. Consequently, they also do not yet face the problem of self-determination, since this is the result of the process of introspection.
Conditions for harmonious self-determination
The main conditions for harmonious self-determination of an individual are child-parent relationships, which are built on acceptance, trust and freedom of choice. It cannot be said that for self-determination it is worth creating the necessary conditions only in adolescence.
No, the first bricks of this process are laid in early childhood, when the mother hugs the child and says that she loves him simply for who he is, without conditioning, then he develops a positive attitude that he is good.
A prerequisite for the development of self-determination will be the support of the teenager in his choice by his parents. Help and acceptance of his values and orientations in this world. Leading by example and not criticizing will help you change your focus and make thoughtful choices.
The relationship between self-determination and self-realization
In the process of personality formation, a person needs to go through the stage of self-determination - without this, self-realization is impossible. A person must realize his own purpose, learn to achieve his goals, realize his worth and find application for knowledge and skills.
Developing self-determination is a slow process. In order to quickly achieve self-determination and avoid problems in the modern world, it is necessary to develop thinking, learn to understand yourself, your emotions and needs, and study interaction with the environment. If a person thinks consciously and intelligently, it will not be difficult for him to correctly determine the goals he will strive for and realize his desires and needs - and this will be an excellent start on the path to self-determination in all areas of life.
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