Russians’ life goals and strategies in a passionarity context

• Main Author: Natalia N. Sedova
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology 2016-06-01
• Series: Социологический журнал
• Online Access: http://jour.fnisc.ru/upload/journals/1/articles/4260/submission/proof/4260-61-9008-1-10-20161228.pdf

This article is dedicated to analyzing the transformation of Russians’ life values and attitudes during the course of the last decade. Examined are “activist” (passionate) and “passive” (laymen) models of mentality, as well as their development. The criteria which enable us to relate to one model or the other are defined by an inclination towards an outward or inward control locus, self sufficiency or dependence on the government, struggling or adapting to external circumstances. Using such an approach as a basis enables us to separate those who are “passionate” (who consistently identify themselves with “activist” type attitudes), “laymen” (who prefer “passive” attitudes) and those who belong to an intermediate group (with mixed attitudes). Analyzed are the peculiarities of how “passionaries” and “laymen” view the situation in the country, together with prospects for its development; the position these groups occupy within our society’s social structure; the characteristics they demonstrate when it comes to setting and achieving life goals; the potential for their adaptation during a period of crisis. The empirical basis for the study are all-Russian representative surveys conducted by the Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IS RAS) and the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM), which took place in 2005. It is shown that activist/passionary values are associated with higher social status and financial success, a high level of life aspirations, a rational approach towards setting life goals, as well as the strategies for their achievement, and mastering life planning practices. A conclusion is drawn that “passionaries” are better integrated into social reality than most, and they are capable of partaking in the development of society, particularly during a period of crisis.