What is a professional identity? Is this concept different from self-determination in choosing a profession? Does it have anything to do with the suitability of a person to perform work, official duties? Does this concept include people's inclination to specific occupations, talent?
These and many other questions invariably arise for those who first hear this expression. Often people who are far from psychology believe that we are talking about specific techniques used in interviews and allowing the employer to come to certain conclusions about the nature of applicants. It is often believed that we are talking about testing. However, this is not the case. Finding out what is hidden under the concept of “professional identity” is not at all difficult if you approach the issue, as the people say, “from the stove,” that is, from afar. The key, basic word is "identity", therefore, it is necessary to start with it.
What is identity? Definition
Identity is one of the properties of the human psyche. Due to the presence of this quality, people are able to identify or to relate themselves to something, to identify.
Identification can relate to any phenomenon, state, subject. For example, a person refers to a certain social status, this is identity. If people claim to belong to a religious denomination or nationality, this is also an identity.
The term is used in psychology and the sciences that intersect with it. For example, sociology has its own definition of this concept and idea of it. However, identification does not at all preclude the presence of such a quality as personal integrity.
What complements identity? Related concepts
There are only two concepts associated with this term. In fact, they are explanatory and complementing the basic definition of concepts. In other words, they allow you to get a more accurate idea of the main.
The first of these is ego identity. Under this term is meant personal integrity and all those properties of the psyche that are associated with this quality. That is, this concept includes the continuity of the human "I", self-awareness, its constancy, not amenable to the influence of changes occurring with the person himself or with the reality surrounding him. Changes are understood to mean any of the unstable factors - the growth or aging of the person himself, the receipt of new information, natural disasters, and so on.
Of course, the idea of such a property of the psyche as its own "I" can be obtained through the prism of priorities. For example, if professional identity is considered as the main property, then in a complementary concept such factors as education, experience, specialty, social and labor activity, and not ethnic or cultural affiliation will have priority.
The second related concept is the crisis of identity. In the most generalized and simplest version of the definition, this is a special state of the psyche, expressed in the loss of such a quality as ego-identity. We are not talking about the complete loss of self. A crisis mental state is characterized by a noticeable decrease in the identification of a person with a particular phenomenon, social structure, subject or occupation, loss of confidence in one's social role or importance. That is, this is a state of disappointment in something and a desire to stop participating in it. For example, the loss of faith in God leads to cessation of church attendance and cultural priorities.
If socio-professional identity is considered as the basic concept, then the state of crisis will be accompanied by a loss of confidence in one's own vocation, talent, chosen profession and personal compliance with it. The consequence of staying in this state will be a change in profession, kind or field of activity. If a person is at the stage of receiving education, then there is a high probability of his leaving the school or transfer to another faculty.
What could be an identity? Types and Types
Professional identity is far from the only possible way of identifying one’s self with something, but only one of many types of this property of the human mind and psyche. There are an incredible number of identifications; in theory, people are able to apply this quality of reason to any phenomenon or object. For example, stigmata often identify their specific condition with the wounds of Christ. This is also an identity.
The whole variety of those factors with which people are able to identify their own self-consciousness can be divided into a pair of generalizing types or directions:
A natural type is one that does not depend on the will or desires of a person. Moreover, this direction combines properties that are not dependent on social factors, geographical or climatic conditions, upbringing, and much more. They are unchanged and do not succumb not only to the influence of something, but also to correction by the person himself. Although the last statement in the modern world is no longer indisputable. In other words, natural identification types are what is given at birth, such as race, nationality, gender.
Artificial types - that which is formed in the process of becoming a person’s own "I", that is, acquired by him in the process of life and can change, undergoing a crisis. For the properties included in this type, the presence of a change in the stages of development is characteristic. An example is the formation of professional identity - the influence of social status and opportunities, combined with desire, leads to a particular specialty, after which a person begins to identify with him. Awareness of self-identity in the profession does not come with its choice. That is, while a person is getting an education, he says about himself: "I am studying as a doctor." After he receives a profession and begins to work, he says differently: "I am a doctor." If a person does not directly position himself in the specialty, that is, he says: “I work as a doctor”, then this is evidence of an identity crisis.
Types of identity is an identification with something concrete. In other words, religious affiliation with a particular denomination is a kind of identity related to the artificial type.
How did this concept come about? About the author of the theory
For the first time, the study and study of the status of professional identity, as well as the very concept of identification in general, was conducted by the American scientist Eric Erickson. It was he who authored the scientific theory of the psychosocial type of human personality development.
The difference from other theoretical options for understanding and explaining personal development lies in the fact that the processes that occur in the human mind and psyche are influenced by his identification of himself with something. That is, the social and cultural environment is of key importance in the process of personal development and self-determination.
How is identity formed in relation to the profession?
Becoming an individual as a professional in any industry is a long process. Its peak falls on young years, however this process can be repeated several times throughout life. The formation of professional identity is often confused with a simple choice of specialty or orientation on the labor market.
This process is much more complicated and includes a combination of many factors related to both the social environment, cultural or ethnic affiliation, and the internal characteristics of the individual, such as interests, hobbies, talents.
The primary formation of professional identity is inextricably linked to such moments as self-awareness, one's own place and role in society. That is, this process is inseparable from the formation of the personality as a whole, and its peak falls at the time of self-awareness by a person, namely, the young years that complete the stage of growing up.
The choice of a specialty is only one of the stages of the process of identity of a person in relation to professional activities. In fact, the formation begins from the moment when a person begins to show interest in some activities in childhood, and ends when the phrase: “I am a doctor” is pronounced, for example. That is, at that moment when the mind identifies a person with a profession.
What is said in different methods?
Different methods of studying professional identity often use other terms to denote this process. For example, the term “professionalization” was often used in the works of Soviet psychologists. In Markova’s writings, this concept was given a definition that describes it as the process of an individual’s ascent to professionalism within the chosen industry. Another Russian scientist, Pryazhnikov, used the term "professional development." It should be understood as a certain state of the human psyche, in which labor becomes the main means of gaining a sense of one's own demand and dignity.
In addition to the works of the founder of this theory, Erickson, an important role in its development was played by works and studies:
- D. Marcia - definition of statuses;
- L. Schneider - characteristic of individual stages;
- R. Heyvighurst, D. Syoper - the allocation of age periods and the consideration of identity in their framework.
All these methods consider the features of professional identity, but do not contradict the basic theory, but, on the contrary, develop and supplement it. This direction in psychology does not apply to completed ones. This means that research in the field of studying the professional, social and personal identity of people continues at the present time.
What is a status?
For the first time, Martia singled out the status of professional identity, and he also defined this concept. Statuses are specific periods of a mental or personal state characterized by a combination of certain sensations and processes.
There are four such states. But in practice, a person’s self-awareness is able to combine the status of professional identity, forming borderline and mixed states. According to the theory of Marcia, identity can remain in the following statuses:
- undefined;
- early;
- Mature
- crisis, or stage of the moratorium.
Each of the statuses of identity has its own distinctive features that are characteristic only for him. To determine in which of the statuses a person is, the Azbel technique allows. Professional identity, according to the works of A. Azbel, consists of an endless series of successive statuses, that is, it is a continuous mental process.
What are the characteristics of uncertainty status?
If the identity is in the status of uncertainty, then this corresponds to such characteristic features:
- lack of clear beliefs;
- no priorities in a professional sense;
- there is flexibility with respect to types of work.
The main distinguishing feature, according to the methodology for studying the status of Martian professional identity, is the combination of the above signs with the absence of a crisis of formation.
An example of this status can be the state and behavior of any person who has not decided on a vocation and profession, engaged in temporary work. For example, a graduate of a school, working part-time at a catering establishment and attending several preparatory courses at various universities, is in a state of uncertainty. However, if a person does not choose a profession for himself, earning a living than he will, but at the same time he will not experience an internal crisis and will never have any specialty with which he identifies himself, then this is also a status of uncertainty. That is, age, time or other frameworks for this status state are not peculiar.
What are the characteristics of early identity status?
The name of this status speaks for itself - early identity, that is, it came earlier than it should. As a rule, this status occurs when the formation of professional identity occurs in the process of forced adulthood.
Its characteristic features are:
- early inclusion in the monetary system of relations;
- willingness and ability to make decisions and bear responsibility;
- a clear idea of their own social role;
- the presence of unshakable authority and belief;
- lack of experienced crisis of formation;
- identity in a randomly determined specialty.
In the presence of this status, there is also no crisis of self-determination, as well as a conscious choice of occupation or professional development according to internal needs, interests, talents.
An example can be any case when, under the pressure of circumstances, a young man or teenager is forced to start earning money. Work is not chosen in such a situation, usually young people begin to work where they were taken. However, professional growth and development occurs in the future only within this random sphere of activity.
Often this status is mixed with others. For example, the professional identity of students who are forced to leave school and start working.
What are the characteristics of maturity status?
Maturity status is the state in which a person resides most of his life. Distinctive features characteristic of this condition are the following:
- experiencing, overcoming, completing the crisis of self-determination;
- clear and complete identification of self with a specific occupation;
- process of self-realization and growth within the framework of the chosen profession.
In other words, this status is an accomplished professional identity. Methods A. Azbel, as well as D. Marcia, do not consider this status an unchanged or “frozen” state. That is, to stay in a state of professional maturity, the search for oneself is not characteristic, but personal and career growth, the development and improvement of existing skills, the acquisition of new knowledge in the framework of the chosen specialty are characteristic.
The status of professional maturity should not be confused with stagnation preceding the onset and development of a personality crisis. The main feature of the state of maturity is the pleasure of one's own professional activity, the desire to work in one's specialty and develop in it, a sense of usefulness and, of course, full self-realization.
What are the characteristics of a moratorium status?
The state of crisis is not limited to the period of life in which the professional identity of students occurs. Of course, most people go through this status at a young age, before starting work and completing adulthood. However, a person in the middle of life, or someone who retires, may be in a moratorium status. In other words, this age identity does not have strict age restrictions.
The characteristic features characteristic of this state are:
- the search for oneself, that is, the process of self-determination;
- choice of occupation;
- sorting out various directions of development, both personal and professional;
- the absence of any identification with any of the specialties or fields of activity.
It is often believed that staying in this status is characteristic of creative people. However, this is a misconception. The crises of professional identity have a clear sign - a complete lack of identification of the individual with any of the occupations. Therefore, when a person declares himself: “I am an artist,” even if he does not pick up brushes and does not approach the easel for decades, his state of mind is not a crisis of identity. In other words, he does not stay in the status of a moratorium.
Professional identity is a technique that considers the formation of a person within the framework of a specialty, the identification of a person with a certain occupation. With the presence of labor results or the practical implementation of activities, this concept is not directly related.
What is an identity structure? Components
According to the theory of psychologist L. Schneider, professional identity has a clear structure, peculiar stages of development and formation through which the personality passes.
The semantic or structural construction is as follows:
- self-determination and designation of a circle of interests, field of activity;
- the choice of a particular profession;
- achieving readiness, that is, getting the right education, accumulating experience and knowledge;
- Suitability for independent work;
- self-awareness in the framework of the occupation, the identification of the "I" with him.
Thus, the structure of personality identity in professional activities includes stages from the realization of what one would like to do to self-realization in this specialty.
What is a professional group?
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Groups can have such a unifying feature, as finding the people who make them up in one place. In this case, we are talking about a small specific group. An example would be the staff of a specific department in a hospital. However, all hospital employees cannot enter a professional group. That is, surgeons are one group, and janitors are another. Thus, the main characteristic feature of such a team is the presence of one profession in people.
The most interesting moment in the study of the role of such a group in the professional development of the personality is that the human mind is able to identify its own “I” not only with a specialty, but also with a specific or abstract collective. An example is the phrase: "I am a doctor of the city trauma hospital." That is, the identification of the person with the occupation is supplemented. A person emphasizes his professional belonging to the team of a particular hospital. That is, to a professional group.
The concept of a professional group was first given by L. Schneider in the framework of the theory of identity structure. Like the basic theory of professional self-determination, the formation of personality, the methodology of group formation is at the junction of the psyche and sociality.