Systemic and structural analysis of theories of psychological transformations of personality

Abstract

The paper presents a systematic and structural analysis of the theories of psychological transformations of personality revealing the main methodological approaches to studying personality changes. Transformations of the person’s sense-value sphere are of special interest.

The study (a) analyses the psychological definitions of the “transformation” concept; (b) provides an overview of various theories and approaches to studying personality and its transformations; (c) reveals dynamic and static theories of personality, as well as theories of development and transformation; (d) describes in detail a psycho-transformational approach; (e) highlights artificial and natural transformations.

The paper considers various models and forms of personal transformation and also presents a “field theory”, which is based on the concepts of “analyzing tendencies” or “forces” creating barriers or promoting transformations, and a “theory of dissatisfaction crystallization", which forms associative relations between subjective perception of problems, expenditure, and negative results.

The considered approaches are classified according the following parameters: principles of development, influence of a situation and the context of activity, types of cognitive activity, and mechanisms of resistance to any changes.

The analysis of the considered approaches and models shows that the level of studying personality determines potentialities of its transformation. Personality changes from the standpoint of functioning levels determine the transformation processes specific to each of them. Fast-paced transformations of personality are characteristic for the sense level.

The systemic and structural analysis of the theories of psychological transformations of personality suggests differentiating possible personality changes at the level of personal activity, personal traits, and at the sense level. Future work will involve studying cognitive, affective, and behavioral transformations of a person in the zone of armed conflict.