The relationship between the motives for educational activities and attitudes towards others’ success among future clinical psychologists

Introduction . A fundamental prerequisite for the professional development of a clinical psychologist is a genuine desire to help others. Studying significant psychological phenomena, such as attitudes towards the success of others, provides valuable insights into the process of shaping a future specialist. Aim. The aim of this research is to identify the relationship between the motives behind the educational activities of first-year clinical psychologists and their attitudes towards the success of others. Methodology and research methods . The study focuses on activity-based and systemic approaches within Russian psychology. To diagnose the educational motivation of students, the authors utilised the methodology developed by A. A. Rean and V. A. Yakunin, as modified by N. Ts. Badmaeva, along with T. V. Beskova’s methodology titled “Types of Attitude towards the Success and Failure of Others”. The obtained results were processed using the SPSS program (Kolmogorov-Smirnov distribution agreement criterion, multiple regression, and factor and correlation analysis). Results . It has been demonstrated that various motives for educational activities are interconnected with a relatively new psychological phenomenon known as “attitude towards the success of others”. Research indicates that students’ joy for their peers is positively associated with communicative motives for educational activities, while the desire to achieve similar success as their peers correlates with professional motives for educational engagement. Conversely, envy among students is negatively related to communicative motives and positively related to professional and avoidance motives. Among clinical psychology students, the attitude of schadenfreude towards the success of their peers is positively correlated with avoidance motives in educational activities. In contrast, providing assistance and support for the success of others is negatively associated with avoidance motives. Based on the results of factor analysis, the sample is divided into two groups: one group values creative self-realisation, while the other prioritises maintaining a comfortable social position. Scientific novelty . The scientific novelty of this study lies in examining the phenomenon of the success of others among students training to become clinical psychologists, particularly in relation to their educational motivation. Practical significance . The research findings can be employed in the training process of future clinical psychologists.