Personality profile of psychology students

http://dx.doi.org/10.17072/2949‐5601-2026-2-52-67

Abstract

The relevance of the study is обусловлена increasing demands for personal characteristics of professionals in the field of psychology, as well as the insufficient exploration of the structure of the personality profile of psychology students as a system of interrelated adaptive and maladaptive traits. The study aimed to investigate the characteristics of the personality profile of psychology students. The sample consisted of N = 148 psychology students from Perm State University. Standardized psychodiagnostic instruments were used, including the Big Five Inventory, the Dark Triad questionnaire, the Emotional Intelligence questionnaire, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Self-Concept Clarity Scale, and the Reflexivity questionnaire. The results indicate that the personality profile of psychology students is characterized by a predominance of adaptive traits, including high levels of openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, and reflexivity, along with moderate levels of neuroticism and low levels of psychopathy. Machiavellianism and narcissism were expressed at moderate levels. Correlation analysis revealed a structured system of relationships comprising an adaptive cluster (extraversion, intrapersonal emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, self-concept clarity, conscientiousness) and an opposing maladaptive pole (neuroticism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism). Extraversion and intrapersonal emotional intelligence were identified as system-forming factors associated with effective self-regulation and self-confidence. Neuroticism showed stable negative correlations with key psychological resources. Narcissism demonstrated an ambivalent role, combining adaptive aspects (associations with self-efficacy and extraversion) and maladaptive aspects (association with psychopathy). Reflexivity exhibited a specific pattern of relationships, being positively associated with neuroticism and negatively associated with extraversion, self-concept clarity, and narcissism, which may indicate its link to increased self-focused attention. No statistically significant differences were found between students from different academic programs. The personality profile of psychology students is a system of interconnected adaptive resources and specific maladaptive components. The findings clarify the structure of personality traits essential for professional development and can be used to design psychological support programs for students.