AN INTEGRAL THEORETICAL MODEL OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT: FROM THE MENTAL SELF-IMAGE TO THE MATRIX OF CREATION

In contemporary literature on professional competence development, approaches that define competence as a set of knowledge, skills, and abilities dominate, while deeper layers of personality-identity, value systems, and intrinsic motivation—are often neglected. This paper presents an integral theoretical model of professional competence development that begins with a redefinition of competence as "authoritativeness" (merodavnost) - the achieved norm of an individual to produce objectively measurable results and be socially recognized in their professional role. The model is based on the anthropological premise of man as a creative being and is developed through seven interconnected theoretical constructs: mental self-image, professional identity, business communication, motivation, value system, hindering factors, and creative visualization. The central contribution of the work is the original concept of the "Matrix of Creation"—a theoretical model that connects desire, decision, intention, project, plan, program, action, and realization into a unique causal chain. Comparative analysis shows that the proposed model transcends the limitations of existing developmental models (Dreyfus, Erikson, Kolb, Schön, Bereiter & Scardamalia) and offers an integrative framework connecting the anthropological, psychological, and action dimensions of professional development.