The Relationship Between the Quality of the Occupational Choice and Existential Motivation Among Applicants

The choice and the existential motivations separately have received wide attention in among psychologists. However, the choice quality has not been studied in connection with existential motivations, the latter being widely explored in a sample of school children and adolescents. The specific objective of the study is to clarify the role of existential motivation in the process of choice. The research question focuses on providing a greater depth of knowledge about the role of four existential motivations in the process of occupational choice. The study consists of two blocks (the first block contains a longitudinal study). This investigation involves two samples consisting of applicants and students of the 1st year of institutions. In the first sample there were 26 people, and in the second - 31. The respondents were asked to complete the subjective quality choice scale (SQC), existential motivations test (TEM) and undergo the semi-structural interview and essay. As a result of the conducted empirical research, it was found that the aspects of the quality of professional choice are fairly stable values. There was also found a direct and significant relationship between high quality of choice and the whole expression of existential motivations, as well as a relationship between independence of choice and security/acceptance of value. This study is useful for applicants, as well as teachers and parents who help them in the process of choosing a profession. The paper may also have a scientific interest for the psychology of choice and social psychology.