Dynamics of Future Psychologists’ Soft Skills Development During their Study at the Higher Education Institution

Abstract

The article examines the dynamics of soft skills development as a factor of successful professional activity of future psychologists at different stages of their higher education training. The term "soft skills" means a set of personality traits, social skills, communication skills, personal habits, friendliness and optimism. It also includes individual, communication and management skills. It is stated that for successful professional activity, such groups of psychology students’ soft skills as communication skills, personal performance, management skills, strategic skills and critical thinking should be developed. To study the dynamics these soft skills groups development, the diagnostic study was conducted among first-, third- year and master’s degree students majoring in Psychology at Khmelnytsky National University. According to the research results, it has been concluded that while studying at a higher education institution, psychology students have a positive dynamics of changes of soft skills development. However, there is a number of first- and third-year students with poor communication and organizational skills, leadership skills, stress resistance and critical thinking. Considering this fact, there is a strong necessity to work out and implement ways of soft skills development for future psychologists.