Influence of the police perception on the formation of professional identity among the cadets of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

During the lifetime in everyone several identities is forming, one of which is professional. To understand phenomenon of professional identity formation we used theories of social identity, identity with a profession and an organization. Thus, professional identity is understood as the various strategies that are taken to reconcile different perceptions: subjective ideas about the profession and organization and public perceptions about the profession and organization. 13 individual in-depth semi-structured interviews with cadets were conducted. We described the strategies by which cadets e reconcile conflicting ideas about the police activities and on the basis of which they form their further existence in the profession.