Quasi-Development as an Illusion of Personal Growth

Bibliographic Data

ID22201530
AuthorsSvetlana Kostromina (0000-0001-9508-2587, St Petersburg University), Maria Makarova (0000-0002-8279-0581, St Petersburg University)
Year2023
Volume7
Issue2
Pages81-101
Publication date2023-07-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChanging Societies and Personalities (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2587-6104 • E-ISSN: 2587-8964
PublisherUral Federal University (PUBLISHER • RU)
DOI10.15826/csp.2023.7.2.232
OpenAlexW4385881411
LanguageEN
References cited24

This article explores the concept of quasi-development from theoretical, methodological, and empirical perspectives. The study consists of two parts, examining the components and functional manifestations of quasi-development. A theoretical definition of the phenomenon of quasi-development is proposed. In Study 1, the perceptions of quasi-development in two groups of respondents were analyzed by using content analysis: one group consisted of 30 individuals without psychological education and the other of 10 individuals with a psychological background. The study revealed several features of quasi-development, including an attitude towards development where change occurs for the sake of change, an illusion of infinity of options and intensity of development induced by external influence, a desire to obtain a ready-made “recipe” instead of taking responsibility, a lack of correlation between life experience and emotional history, and a lack of a meaning regulator. In Study 2, key components of quasi-development and its connection with magical thinking were assessed by using data from 33 respondents without psychological education, but with experience of seeking psychological help and striving for self-development. The study also explored the correlations of quasi-development markers with the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale proposed by J. Tobacyk. The peculiarities of the social context of modern individuals and the ways of constructing identity were also considered. Finally, the article raises questions about the need for further research on the phenomenon of quasi-development

Aesthetics · Cognitive psychology · Empirical research · Epistemology · Illusion · Perception · Personal development · Phenomenon · Ego Development and Educational Practices · Psychology · Psychology of Development and Education · Social Psychology · Socioeconomic and Demographic Analysis

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