Categorical structure of the armenian image among russian students with different types of ethnic identity

• Main Authors: S. A. Romanova, О. S. Gurova
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University 2021-09-01
• Series: Вестник Мининского университета
• Subjects: categorization; social categorization; ethnic identity; social identity; interethnic interaction
• Online Access: https://vestnik.mininuniver.ru/jour/article/view/1259

Introduction. The article analyzes the specificity of the categorical structure of the Armenian image among Russian students of Barnaul with different types of ethnic identity. Representatives of the Armenian ethnic group are one of the numerous ethnic groups living in Russia, and the space of higher education seems to be one of the platforms where you can meet them. Thus, among modern students, the need to adapt both to the new educational space and to its multinationality is becoming actual. The process of such adaptation includes a number of difficulties that students of different nationalities face. In our opinion, such difficulties are also associated with the specifics of categorization by the indigenous population of members of different ethnic groups.Materials and Methods. The specificity of the categorical structure of the Armenian image is presented in the form of a structure of categories identified on the basis of the prevailing type of ethnic identity of the respondents. To achieve the goal of the study, the following methods were used: free associations, subjective scaling, factor analysis of data, the questionnaire "Types of ethnic identity" by G.U.Soldatova and S.V. Ryzhova. The selection consisted of 187 students of different specialties and different universities in Barnaul.Results. Four models have been obtained that reflect the categorical structure of the image of an Armenian in groups of Russian students with different types of ethnic identity. All groups of respondents categorize the Armenian on the basis of emotionality, sociability, strategy of behavior in the conflict, and the prevailing position in the group. The fullness of the selected categories is distinctive. Thus, Russian students with a pronounced normal ethnic identity note negative qualities of an Armenian, but positive characteristics prevail in the structure of the image (cheerful, talkative, expressive, compliant). Russian students with a pronounced hyperidentity also represent the Armenian in a complex way, highlighting their positive and negative characteristics, where the latter are mostly represented (competing, impulsive, cunning). In the structure of the image of an Armenian, the majority of respondents with predominantly ethnic indifference have negative characteristics, and the group of students with pronounced ethnonihilism almost completely represents the Armenian in a negative light.Discussion and Conclusions. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that it is necessary to form a positive ethnic identity among students. It is assumed that the specificity of the categorization of a member of the Armenian ethnic group by Russian students will determine their nature of communication with a representative of this nationality.