Peculiarities of the influence of the level of motivation for cognitive activities on the development of future teachers’ intellectual abilities

Abstract

Introduction. The article considers the problem of developing Education students’ intellectual abilities at different levels of their cognitive motivation. The purpose of the study is to reveal how low and high levels of motivation for cognitive activities influence the development of the psychological system of intellectual abilities in different periods of Education students’ learning and professional activities. Materials and Methods. The study follows the system-genetic variant of the activity-based approach, which enables the authors to explain the influence of personality abilities (motivation) on the development of the abilities of the subject of the activity (intellectual abilities). The main methods employed include a survey, testing, analysis of regulatory documents and scholarly literature on the research problems. The sample consisted in 156 undergraduate students majoring in Education. Results. The authors have revealed a nonlinear nature of the influence of cognitive motivation on the development of intellectual abilities of Education students. It was found that an increase in cognitive motivation does not lead to an increase in absolute indicators of intellectual abilities and the level of general intelligence; its influence is manifested in a change in the structural organization of intellectual abilities in different periods of learning and professional activities. A high level of cognitive motivation ensures successful restructuring of intellectual abilities at the beginning of teacher training, testing new methods of intellectual activities in the middle of the degree course, optimization of the structure of intelligence at the end of studying. Thus, the influence of cognitive motivation on intellectual development is mediated by the acquisition of experience in educational and professional activities, requiring testing different methods of arranging students’ intellectual activities. Conclusions. Managing the process of developing motivation and intellectual abilities in a future teacher should take into account the complex nature of relationships between these psychological phenomena. The effect of pedagogical influence on motivation and, as a consequence, intellectual development is of a delayed nature, mediated by the acquisition of experience in solving educational and professional problems by future teachers at different stages of pursuing the degree programme.