Relevant concepts of a teacher’s state when experiencing professional identity crisis

Abstract

Introduction. Recently, a professional activity and development of a teacher has been carried out in the context of permanent changes in the education system. The necessity to adapt to innovations is accompanied by an increase in tension, in resistance and in the probability of destructive tendencies in teacher’s personality and professional crisis that can face the teacher in the process of professionalisation. A constructive resolution of crisis leads the teacher to the transition to a new stage of professional development and enrichment of his or her professional and personal potential. The non-constructive resolution of the crisis leads to stagnation of the teacher and increased destruction of the personality. In light of this, it is relevant to study the peculiarities of the teacher’s professional personality crisis and to identify the mechanisms for successful recovery from the crisis. The aim of the present article was to disclose the research results on current sense states, which teachers face when experiencing professional personal crisis. Methodology and research methods. The methodological basis of the work was the systemic and phenomenological approaches. The method of cross-sections was used as an organisational method. The collection of empirical data was carried out by means of survey methods: a phenomenological questionnaire “Experiencing a professional personality crisis” and an adapted version of the test of life-sense orientations by D. A. Leontyev. The research sample was made by teachers of secondary schools. The analysis of the results was carried out through content analysis, comparative and frequency analysis. Results and scientific novelty. Theoretical and methodological analysis of the works of foreign and domestic scientists allowed authors to form a hypothesis that the situation of crisis is followed by disagreement in consciousness of the person’s professional past, present and future. The conducted research showed that only 19% of teachers in the state of crisis possessed the balanced temporary loci. Apparently, these respondents were at the stage of recovery from the crisis and the transformation of values and meanings in their consciousness that already occurred. Sense-bearing desynchronosis was observed among vast majority of teachers (81%), expressed in “leaving” into any of temporary loci (in the past, present or future), i.e. a kind of escape from a crisis situation, which, in turn, gave rise to decrease in meaning of life in general. The authors concluded that fragmentary perception of life timelines leads to strengthening of destructive trends in teacher’s professional development and their stagnation. Practical significance. The research materials can provide a framework for design and realisation of the programmes of psycho-pedagogical support for teachers, taking into account their feelings during professional identity crisis.