Russian values and assumptions.

Sociopsychological differentiation becomes more pronounced (this can be seen from the above table). Those who failed with their adaptation make use of “compensatory national stereotypes” of a sympathetic (though a bit naive and non-pragmatic) nation with patience as the ultimate value. Others realize that in order to adapt to the new environment they should get rid of these stereotypes and are in search of new qualities compatible with new conditions. Hence the radical change of stereotypes – the share of the respondents who point at Russians’ being fond of hard labor demonstrated in five years a 1.5 times increase, whereas their adherence to a participative pattern of behavior increased over three times. This may be interpreted as one more symptom of Russian flexibility and “openness.”
In conclusion it should be underlined once more that the Russian mentality is quite contradictory. This feature of Russian character is noted by all the researchers. To sum up all the aforesaid I would like to quote the survey, carried out by the newspaper “Argumenty I Facty”. In this survey the respondents had to answer the following question: “What is your intimate wish?” The answers to such a questionnaire can also characterize the values of people and the distinctive characteristics of their mentality. The results of the survey were the following:
To live in harmony with oneself and other people 23% To succeed in life 15% To improve the financial situation 12% To find the real fortune 11% To get rid of diffidence 8% To marry happily 7% To make a right choice on the spiritual way 6% To begin one’s own business 4% Not to envy others people 3% To make career 2% To make a profitable deal 1% To get rid of envy 1%
The list of sources
Berdyaev N. Sub specie aeternitatis. Mocsow, Kann+, 2002.
Diligensky G., Chugrov S. “The West” in Russian mentality. Moscow, 2000.
Kasyanova K. On Russian national character. Moscow, 2004.
Sergeeva A. The Russians. The behaviour stereotypes, traditions, mentality. Moscow, Nauka, 1996.
Berdyaev N. Sub specie aeternitatis. Mocsow, Kann+, 2002. P. 310.
Diligensky G., Chugrov S. “The West” in Russian mentality. Moscow, 2000. P. 9.
Diligensky G., Chugrov S. “The West” in Russian mentality. Moscow, 2000. P. 12.
1