Features of Psychological Choice in Volunteers Delivering Support to Children with Severe Developmental Disorders, Children with Cancer and Their Families

Abstract

The article is devoted to studying of the psychological reasons for the choice of voluntary support to children with severe developmental disorders. Authors offer a diagnostic program for studying the features of the psychological choice of volunteers delivering support to children with severe developmental disorders. During an empirical study, the tasks were set to determine and differentiate the characteristics of motivational attitudes and personality characteristics of volunteers. Further, a comparative analysis of the data carried out between groups of respondents delivering support to children with disabilities of different medical conditions, including those with the severe developmental disorders. Results of the study of the features of the psychological choice of volunteers working in the projects of the Charity Foundation “Podari zhisn”, the Deafblind Support Foundation “Con-nection”, the Orthodox Service “Miloserdie.ru”, helping children with severe developmental disorders, deafblind and children with cancer. 28 volunteers participated in the research. The analysis of motivational attitudes shows that during volunteering activities young people can show not only their altruistic qualities, but also satisfy one of the most important needs of personal self-development, experiencing spiritual satisfaction from the results of real help and activity compassion for people with disabilities.