Factor structure of personality characteristics of entrepreneurs of small towns and big cities

The paper considers the problem of entrepreneurship as a subject of research of scientists - philosophers, economists, sociologists and psychologists. It is noted that most researches focus on studying the personality characteristics of entrepreneurs because they are the psychological conditions of entrepreneurship development. It is shown that the parameters of the entrepreneur's personality potential are the subject of research of modern researchers. Hardiness and ambiguity tolerance are the essential characteristics of the personality potential. The personality potential is mediated by values, so it is necessary to learn the value orientations of entrepreneurs which are an important element of the personality structure. The paper presents the results of an empirical study of values, hardiness and ambiguity tolerance which are inherent to entrepreneurs of small towns and big cities. The sample consisted of 60 entrepreneurs of an urban-type community which has the status of a small town, and 60 entrepreneurs of a big city. The Hardiness Survey by S. Maddi (in the adaptation by D.A. Leontiev), the Stimulus Types Ambiguity Tolerance Scale-I by D. McLain (in the adaptation by E.G. Lukovitskaya) and The Value Survey by S. Schwartz (in the adaptation by V.N. Karandashev) were used in the study. The statistical analysis was realized by means of the factor analysis. It is shown that entrepreneurs of small towns have an adequate in-trapersonal hierarchy. Values and such parameters of the personality potential as hardiness and ambiguity tolerance are not dependent on each other. Values, but not the parameters of the personality potential, are the important structural components which determine the personality of entrepreneurs of small towns. A different factor structure was found in the group of entrepreneurs of big cities. Entrepreneurs of big cities do not have a positive psychological potential of entrepreneurship development because the basis of their personality is not values, but personality parameters which provide the ability to adapt to difficult living conditions. Entrepreneurs of big cities are characterized by transformation of the personality in the direction of compliance of their psychological characteristics with the requirements of their activities. The hypothesis about the destruction of the traditional value system as a condition for development of entrepreneurial personality qualities is made.

Keywords

Authors

References