What Determines Young Academics' Choice of Research Topics? The Role of Values, Beliefs, Self-actualization and Subconscious Mind

There is a huge variety of research titles on accredited journals such as Scimago Journal & Country Rank, yet almost no research addressed the question why and how such research titles emerge, the following study attempted to understand the psychological factors behind a researcher’s choice of research topic. Our hypothesis is that values, beliefs and self-actualization plus unconscious motives (Freudian psychoanalytical thinking) in every researcher shape their choice of topic. 10 students from social psychology master’s program of HSE, Moscow were interviewed. The data were interpreted using thematic analysis and three themes were identified: later experiences and challenges in life, personality traits and value, and childhood experiences. Having taken into consideration the roles of values, beliefs, self-actualization and unconscious motives (Freudian psychoanalytical thinking), based on our results it can be contended that values, beliefs, self-actualization shape ones’ choice of research topic, however, the classical psychoanalytical line of thinking of Sigmund Freud did not emerge. Also, since we have touched upon psychoanalysis and psychodynamics, it is worthy to mention that our findings are closer to the line of thinking of Erikson (1998) and his stages of psychosocial development (1998). However, his theory of psychosocial developments is rigidly and necessarily linked to a particular stage of life but in accordance to our finding these developments are quite dynamics through different stages of life.