Student Actors of Different Generations: Invariance and Variability of Personal Characteristics

Abstract

<p>The task of the study: a comparative analysis of the personal characteristics of student actors of different generations so we can identify vectors of change and invariant personality structures. The study used data from 172 respondents: student-actors, of Russian Institite of Theatre Arts, GITIS, study period 1976-1979 (3rd year, N=14); student-actors, Moscow Theater College, study period 2010-2018 (3rd year, N=91); student-actors, Russian Institite of Theatre Arts, GITIS, study period 2022 (4th year, N=38); student-actors, Institute of Contemporary Art, study period 2023 (3rd year, N=49). We used the Kettell 16 PF questionnaire. We compared mean personality profiles of students who studied in 1976-1979 with student-actors who studied in 2010-2018, 2022, 2023.. Factor analysis was conducted to identify structural features. We revealed trends of changes in the expression of personality characteristics of student-actors who studied in the 1970s compared to those who studied in 2010-2018, 2022, 2023: a decrease in the indicators of the F (expressiveness), M (dreaminess) scales and an increase in the indicators of the H (courage) scale, significance level p≤0.05. Invariant combinations of scales common to all subsamples were described as following: "anxiety - emotional stability", "normativity of behavior - dreaminess", "emotional leadership", "radicalism - diplomacy", "public communication - nonconformism". The study reveals the interpretations of these combinations from the point of view of specifics of professional training and actor's activity.</p>