Personality Traits and Values of Men and Women with Different Degrees of Success Avoidance Orientation

Abstract

Introduction. The relevance of studying this topic is due to the insufficient knowledge of such a phenomenon as “success avoidance”. An analysis of existing studies has shown that the motive of “avoiding success” is almost not studied in comparison with the motives for achieving success and avoiding failure. Avoidance of success, in turn, has been studied only in women, and attempts have been made to establish the causes and consequences of its occurrence. In our study, for the first time, the specificity of personality traits and values of men and women with varying degrees of success avoidance orientation is considered.Purpose. The study of personal traits and values of men and women depending on the severity of the orientation towards avoiding success.Materials and methods. The study used the projective method of avoiding success by M. Horner in the modification of T. V. Bendas; the 16-factor personality questionnaire by R. B. Kettell (Form C); the Value questionnaire by Sh. Schwartz; methods of mathematical statistics (Friedman, Wilcoxon criteria).Results. The study involved 70 people – men and women aged 20 to 35 years. It has been found that women and men with a low degree of success avoidance orientation have sociability, social courage, skepticism and innovation, as well as responsibility and emotional stability; along with this, women are more anxious and sensitive, and men are more selfconfident. With a moderate degree of focus on avoiding success, women are characterized by leading values, and men are characterized by leading personality traits.Discussion. The analysis of empirical data shows that men and women who do not avoid success are characterized by almost identical personality traits, but a different value structure – women have a leading value, and the value sphere of men is conflicted. The results of this study provide a basis for discussion and additional analysis of issues related to success avoidance.