Introduction. An important place in the process of professional pedagogical education is occupied by the development of social abilities of students – future teachers. The relevance of the article is determined by the significant influence of the subject’s social abilities on the effectiveness of pedagogical activity. The purpose of the article is to establish the dynamics and content specifics of the development of social abilities of students under the influence of the process of learning at universities a nd the motivation of educational activity. Materials and Methods. Testing students of the Pedagogical University, enrolled in the academic track “Primary Education”. The total sample size is 104 people, including 1st year students – 24 people, 2nd courses – 21 people, 3rd courses – 31 people, 4th courses – 28 people. The following methods were used as diagnostic methods: methods for studying the properties of attention – “Red-black table”, “Confused lines”; for the study of social abilities, the “Test of Social Intelligence” was used by J. Guildford, M. Sullivan; to study the motivation of educational activity – a methods for studying the motivation of learning at a university by T. I. Ilyina, a methods for diagnosing educational motivation of students by A. A. Rean, V. A. Yakunin. The results of the empirical study were processed using the methods of primary descriptive statistics, the non-parametric comparison criterion Mann-Whitney U test, the rank correlation coefficient r-Spearman’s, and regression analysis; in order to analyze the characteristics of the psychological structure of social abilities, structural analysis methods were used. Results. The results obtained in the study expanded the understanding of the psychological factors in the development of social abilities of students – future teachers in the process of professional teacher education. As a result of the study, the main trends in the development of the individual’s abilities in the process of learning were identified, their role in the development of social abilities of students, the specificity of the relationship between the motivation of educational activity and social intelligence was established, the role of pedagogical practice in the development of social abilities of students was shown. The process of development of social abilities during training at a university can be divided into two stages. During the first stage (1–3 year), there is a restructuring of the psychological system of social abilities formed at the stage of school education, accompanied by an increase in the contradiction between the student’s perceptions and expectations of the content of training at the university and the existing level of development of social abilities. Under the influence of the inclusion of a student in the 4th year of study in active pedagogical practice (the second stage), the motivational sphere of educational activity is harmonized, leading to a qualitative increase in social intelligence and the development of the psychological structure of social abilities. Discussion and Conclusion. The results presented in the article will be useful to teachers of secondary and higher pedagogical educational institutions, employees of psychological services in order to increase the effectiveness of the formation of pedagogical abilities of students, accompanying the processes of adaptation of students to study at the university, overcoming the destructive trends of educational and professional development.

Background. The study of the contribution of Alexei Nikolaevich Leontiev to the development of Russian psychological science makes it possible to evaluate his outstanding personal qualities, organizational skills, and the talent of a scientist and researcher. Objective. The study is aimed to analyze the role of A.N. Leontiev in the development of Russian psychology as a field of independent scientific knowledge. Methods. The material was obtained in the study of memories on the life and work of A.N. Leontiev. The analysis of theoretical and methodological research on the problems of psychological science was also conducted. Results. The analysis showed that A.N. Leontiev is one of the few psychologists who took responsibility for the development of psychological science in the USSR. This was reflected in the systematic and fundamental organizational activity, in the creation of psychological faculties, scientific journals, training of personnel for psychological institutions. A.N. Leontiev played a significant role in the rapprochement of Soviet and foreign psychology, acquaintance of Soviet psychologists with the research of psychologists abroad. At the same time, A.N. Leontiev managed to make a significant contribution to the solution of theoretical and methodological issues of world psychology. It is asserted that the achievements of A.N. Leontiev in the areas of organizational, scientific, research activities are explained by a combination of personal qualities of a scientist associated with the ability to think strategically, see a systematic solution to problems, and take responsibility. Conclusion. The most significant achievements of A.N. Leontiev are associated with institutionalizing psychology, training psychological personnel, solving fundamental theoretical and methodological problems of Soviet psychology. Despite the vast research on the personality and activity of A.N. Leontiev within Russian psychological science, the task of archival work with sources and materials remains of great importance. There is an urge for broad generalization of the results in the life and creative paths of the scientist, for the spread of materials about A.N. Leontiev among modern young psychologists.

Introduction. Psychological and pedagogical support for the professionalization of a teacher should be based on modern knowledge in the development of pedagogical abilities. The most popular strategy for studying abilities is still the analytical approach, which does not allow to consider abilities as a holistic, continuously developing psychological education. The purpose of the article is to present the results of research into the development of the psychological system of pedagogical abilities of students – future primary school teachers in the context of continuous pedagogical education at secondary school, pedagogical college and pedagogical university. Materials and Methods. The survey involved 201 subjects, including students of the pedagogical class (n = 15), students of the vocational pedagogical college (n = 82), students of the pedagogical university (n = 104). In order to study the psychological system of pedagogical abilities, test methods, questionnaires, self-assessment scales, as well as an analysis of indicators of academic performance were used. The analysis of the psychological system of abilities was made by using systemic indices (coherence, divergence, organization), assessing the homogeneity/ heterogeneity of structures, identifying the basic and leading components of the system. Results. The uneven development of the psychological system of pedagogical abilities at different levels of pedagogical education was shown. It has been established that the development of the system of pedagogical abilities during the period of study at school, college and university cannot be characterized as continuous. Students of the pedagogical class are characterized by a higher organization of the ability system than those in college and university; for college students – their continuous restructuring and a decrease in organization by the end of their studies; for university students – a more stable and progressively developing system of abilities. Qualitative differences in the structural organization of the system are determined by the different contributions of the types of abilities (individual, subjective, personal) to its functioning and achievement of academic results. The organization of the system of abilities of schoolchildren is largely determined by the abilities of an individual, college students – by the abilities of a subject of activity and personality, university students – by the abilities of an individual. Discussion and Conclusion. The conclusions formulated in the research paper serve the basis for the organization of special activities on the purposeful formation of the system of pedagogical abilities in the conditions of continuous pedagogical education.