Organizational Psychology

Purpose. Obtaining comparative data on the structure of experiences typical of various types of activity (professional, leisure, educational) from representatives of several different professions that are similar to each other in certain parameters, as well as representatives of the same profession with different work experience or engaged in different areas of the same professional activity. This article discusses studies in which the D. A. Leontiev’s method “Activity–Related Experiences Assessment” (AREA) was used. The peculiarity of this study was that respondents representing various professions evaluated their experiences not only in relation to their professional activities, but also to other activities, including leisure, communication, and training. Study design. This study was conducted on several independent samples, with a total number of 252 subjects. Since the respondents gave an assessment of their experiences in different types of activities at the same time, we assume an implicit comparison during the process of evaluating professional activities with other types of activities. The respondents were programmers, actors, athletes, dancers, educators, and photo models. Results. In professional activities, programmers, athletes, and actors (Research 1) come first with “meaning”, and “emptiness” is also in last place. However, there are significant differences in the rating of “pleasure”. For programmers and actors, “pleasure” and “effort” are estimated approximately the same and occupy an intermediate position. The greatest pleasure from dancing (Study 2) is the representative of street dances, followed by representatives of ballroom dancing. Dancers of classical and folk dances also get a little less pleasure but put more effort. All respondents experience the least pleasure in the process of socio–normative activity (work or study), but it is this activity that gives high meaning on the one hand, but also emptiness, on the other. Starting to work in the modeling business, girls more enjoy, enjoy, and enjoy their own professional activities than female teachers (Study 3). Findings. A comparison of the results obtained in the samples representing different professions allows us to conclude that one of the components necessary for immersion in flow states, namely, such as experiencing effort, is more manifested in professional activity, while the remaining two, meaningfulness and pleasure manifest themselves in social or leisure activities, respectively. Differences in experience among representatives of different professions relate more to professional activities. Experiences in other activities that people of different professions (study, recreational activities, communication with friends, etc.) are less different. Negative changes in the emotional state and psychological well–being arising from a long work experience lead to the fact that people are more likely to feel an emptiness in their professional activities. The value of results. The method was first used not in Russia, but in the Russian–speaking region (Uzbekistan), which has cultural specifics in various types of activities. Good consistency of the scales was shown and their structure was similar to the results obtained in previous studies conducted in Russia, which suggests the possibility of using this tool outside of Russia and the prospect of conducting cross–cultural research in the territory of the CIS republics, in which many more people continue to speak Russian.