Using the five-factor questionnaire to study the personality of a specialist-cynologist of the security agencies of the Russian Federation

The article presents the results of using the Russian-language version of the “Big Five” personality questionnaire, in which personality is considered as a structure consisting of 5 factors, including many secondary factors. The subject of the study are psychological characteristics of the personality of dog handlers of law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as RF) at various stages of professionalisation. The author emphasises the relevance of studying and further psychological support of the professional development of dog handlers, with consideration to the fact that specifics of their service and professional activities in order to ensure the security of the country have no analogues and are unique. The results of a focused interview with experienced dog handlers with extensive experience in service cynology have formed the basis for constructing a psychograph for a specialist in the profile in question. Using the “Big Five” methodology, it is possible to identify the characteristic features of cadets studying in the field of training “Animal Science”, profile “Cynology”, and employees of canine services of the law enforcement agencies of the RF. The author correlates the results obtained and notes the correspondence of the psychological qualities of both groups of respondents to the professionally oriented qualities presented in the psychograph of a specialist dog handler of the law enforcement agencies of the RF. The five-factor questionnaire adapted by A.B. Khromov adequately describes the psychological characteristics of an individual and can be used in the study of various aspects of its professional development.

1. Bogdanov S.G., Tregubov A.V. Features of the formation of professional competencies of specialists of the canine service of the Russian Federation. Police activity. 2023;3:56–72. (In Russian). http://doi.org/10.7256/2454-0692.2023.3.40747

2. Danilova R.V. Characteristics of psychophysiological compatibility of a specialist cynologist and service dogs with different stress sensitivity. E-Scio. 2022;11(74). (In Russian).

3. Dorofeev V.S., Kisilev D.S. Problem of professional training of dog handlers in the internal troops of the Russian Internal Ministry. Army and society. 2012;4(32). (In Russian).

4. Kusakina E.A. Criteria for professional development of specialists-cinologists of power departments. Pushkin Leningrad State University Journal. 2023;4:457–473. (In Russian). http://doi.org/10.35231/18186653_2023_4_457

5. Kusakina E.A., Malchikov R.V. Psychophysiological compatibility of a specialist cynologist and service dog. Penitentiary Science. 2019;3:416–422. (In Russian). http://doi.org/10.46741/2686-9764-2019-13-3-416-422

6. Lebedeva E.V., Pikalova M.A. Personal qualities of dog handler as a factor of effective professional activity. Theory and practice of modern science. 2016;6(12):731–737. (In Russian).

7. Osipov P.S. Psychological and pedagogical support for the development of professional competence of dog handlers. Аbstr. diss. … Cand. Sci. (Ped.): 13.00.08. Moscow: Sholokhov Moscow State University for Humanities; 2013. 22 p. (In Russian).

8. Ananyev B.G. On the problems of modern human study. Moscow: Nauka; 1997. 380 p. (In Russian).

9. Asmolov A.G. Personality psychology. Principles of general psychological analysis. 2nd ed., revised and enlarged. Moscow: Smysl; 2001. 416 p. (In Russian).

10. Klimov E.A. Introduction to labour psychology. Moscow: Lomonosov Moscow State University; 1988. 199 p. (In Russian).

11. Povarenkov Yu.P. Psychological content of the personal professional development. Moscow: University of Russian Innovative Education; 2002. 159 p. (In Russian).

12. Khromov A.B. Five-factor personality questionnaire: teaching manual. Kurgan: Kurgan State University; 2000. 23 p. (In Russian).

13. Voronkova J.J., Radyuk O.M., Basinskaya I.V. The “Big Five” or five-factor model of personality. In: Meaning, functions and significance of different branches of practical psychology in modern society: Proceedings of the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation, Khabarovsk, November 22–25, 2016. Khabarovsk: Pacific National University; 2017. Pp. 39–45. (In Russian).

14. Mishkevich A.M. Using the Russian version of the BFI in the study of adolescents. Perm University Herald. Series “Philosophy. Psychology. Sociology”. 2016;1(25):92–101. (In Russian). http://doi.org/10.17072/2078-7898/2016-1-92-101

15. Mishkevich A.M., Shchebetenko S.A., Kalugin A.Yu., Soto C.J., John O.P. The short and extra-short forms of the Russian version of the Big Five Inventory-2: BFI-2-S и BFI-2-XS. Psychological Journal. 2022;1(23):95–108. (In Russian). http://doi.org/10.31857/S020595920017744-4

16. Osin E.N., Rasskazova E.I., Neyaskina Yu.Yu., Dorfman L.Ya., Aleksandrova L.A. Operationalisation of the five-factor model of personality traits on the Russian sample. Psychological diagnostics. 2015;3:80–104. (In Russian).