Searching for Vocation: Existential Phenomenological Analysis

Problem. The process of search for a professional vocation has not been investigated thoroughly: the only study on this process has been conducted among students in search for vocation. Therefore, there is no empirical data on what contributes to finding a vocation or what prevents one from it. In addition, vocation has shown strong correlation with the construct of meaning, yet it has not been studied from the standpoint of existential analysis (EA) and logotherapy, the schools which have vast theoretical and practical experience of dealing with the concept of meaning. Goal. In this study we aim to investigate the content of such phenomena like search, presence of a vocation and living a professional vocation, as well as to identify the process components of searching for a professional vocation. Design. The study has a mixed design. At the first stage the correlation of vocation with the concepts of EA was studied, using quantitative methods on a sample of 262 people. At the second stage the components of the vocation search process were identified using qualitative methods (the descriptive phenomenological psychological method by A. Georgi and B. Georgi) on a sample of 10 people who have found their vocation and live according to it. Results. The study found a strong correlation between vocation and existential fulfillment including all of the 4 fundamental motivations. The predictors of living a vocation were identified from the standpoint of EA: one's place in the world and the time spent on important things. There are 3 paths of finding a vocation: a natural path, a crisis path and a cyclical path. The main components of the search process include: actively engaging in new activities, relating to the internal response, and rejecting unsuitable activities. Subjectively perceived factors, which contribute to finding a vocation are: taking one’s values and interests seriously, and determination and courage to engage in new activities. Two main themes of internal conflicts were discovered that subjectively interfere with finding a vocation: "financial stability – interest" and "the right to be oneself – the need to meet the expectations of others". Based on the results we proposed practical recommendations for working with the request for finding a professional vocation at the consultative and psychotherapeutic levels (in the EA approach).