Bunas A. Characteristic features of predictive competence among people with different degrees of propensity to risky behavior.

Current thesis is devoted to establishing theoretical and methodological background as well as to experimental validation of the concept of predictive competence as a complex systemic personality trait. It is characterized by the person's ability to design their own future relying on past experience (knowledge, abilities, skills, achievements) and, therefore, enhance their own efficiency in pursuing life goals (and social goals in particular) in various spheres, including situations with propensity to risky behavior. The structure of predictive competence in the context of risky behavior has two components - internal and external. Internal component consists of basic level aspects (reflection and emotional directivity which function as core organizers of human behavior and mental activity) and procedural aspects (dominant thinking styles, time orientation, conation which regulate behavior and mental activity). External component of predictive competence reveals itself in the level of adaptability, factual analysis, ability to make decisions quickly and propensity to self-reflection in different situations. In the representative sample of 215 adults it was experimentally validated that statistically lower level of predictive competence is typical for those who have higher level of propensity to risky behavior and associated personality traits. The use of cluster analysis methods (K-means algorithm) and multiple linear regression analysis helped identify differences in characteristic features of predictive competence in groups of people with different propensity to risky behavior. Thus, predictive competence among people with high propensity to risky behavior remains low because of intensive social signaling, pragmatic thinking style and anxiety. Predictive competence of people with medium propensity to risk features a number of characteristics that belong to internal and external component of its core structure. And a common factor between the groups with high and medium level of propensity to risky behavior that influences predictive competence levels is responsibility, the higher it is - the lower is the level of risk propensity. The group with low propensity to risky behavior maintains the level of predictive competence high because of easy fixation of social signaling, future time orientation and symbolic thinking.