Technology to strengthen students’ self-awareness of their personal qualities

Abstract

There is a need to develop specific techniques to help individuals in self-actualization. The article suggests an instrument that has been tested over years and validated with over 800 people. The theoretical basis is the method of making inner knowledge explicit, using a construct called sub-personality. The technology suggested the individual follows four steps: (1) s/he analyzes his/her strengths and weaknesses, drawing them on a plane of four concentric circles on paper; (2) s/he draws the qualities – subpersonalities as ‘little houses’; (3) models his/her personality with the help of a modified technique “Work with creative garbage”; and (4) uses elements of psychodrama (role-divided psychotherapy). The paper presents a case study of one participant, so as to show the practical application of this technology, and to validate its effectiveness. In the concluding section, we demonstrate how this technology helps a person to interpret one of his/her personal qualities, and creates conditions for self-acceptance, integrity of self-image, and ways of self-actualization. We confirm that the technology described can help psychologists to assist their patients in self-cognition and in learning about their personal qualities. This can help psychology experts in various fields.