SPIRITUAL AND MORAL MANIFESTATIONS AND PERSONAL SELF-REALIZATION IN VOLUNTEERS: COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

Shachinova Maria Anatolyevna

The article presents the results of a comparative study on the spiritual and moral manifestations and personal self-realization of volunteers. The aim of the study is to identify the expression of spiritual and moral aspects of the personality of volunteers and their personal self-realization in comparison with individuals not engaged in volunteer activities. Two groups were identified: 1) individuals engaged in volunteer activities, and 2) individuals not engaged in volunteer activities. The total sample size was 93 respondents (68% female) aged 18 to 56 years (M = 33; SD = 10.06). Group 1 consists of 40 people; Group 2 consists of 53 people. A complex set of psychodiagnostic techniques has been used aimed at assessing spiritual-moral qualities, altruism, spiritual orientation, the ability for self-transcendence and meta-personal self-interpretation, as well as self-actualization and life activity productivity. To identify differences, a nonparametric statistical method – the Mann-Whitney U test – was applied. The results of the study showed that volunteers demonstrate statistically significantly higher indicators compared to individuals not engaged in volunteer activities (bank employees) on all studied parameters, except for the «Support» scale of the Shostrom’s Personal Orientation Inventory (POI).

Keywords:manifestations of the spiritual and moral domain, volunteering, self-realization, spiritual and moral qualities, altruism, self-transcendence