Психология и социология/12. Социальная психология
PhD in Psychology Lamash I. V., master in
Psychology Korzhova I. V.
Kharkiv national university of
internal affairs, Ukraine
The specificity of ethnic stereotypes among students
Radical social
changes that have occurred in various fields (economics, politics, culture,
interethnic relations), the development of our society have led to social
instability. National issues are extremely relevant to our impetuous century of
progress and social disruption. Belonging to a group, feeling of being a part
of "we" is dominant, the basic desire of man and has been considered
in psychology as a general psychological law. But the formation of a sense of
belonging to a certain "we" is inseparably linked, or even a consequence
of the emergence of the concept of "strangers". The problem of stereotyping as one of the
most important mechanisms of socialization widely analyzed in the studies of E.
Erikson, G. Mid, G. Tarde, Н. Tajfel, A. Bodalov, B. Paryhin, A. Petrovsky, V.
Petrovsky. Ethnic identity was the subject of research in the writings of G. Le
Bon, G. Tarde,
C. Jung, Y. Bromley, L. Drobizheva, G. Soldatova, O. Donchenko, P. Gnatenko, V.
Pavlenko, M. Pyrene, S. Tahlin , M. Shulga et al.
Relationships of nation with people of other nationalities are a part of
its public life, which is reflected in its social consciousness, and rather in
ethnic consciousness, which is one of the components of social consciousness.
Ethnic stereotype is an awareness of specific ethnic characteristics of other
ethnic communities, which takes the form of constructing the image of foreign
ethnic group. In connection with this sociologist Charles E. Hurst of the
College of Wooster states that, "One reason for stereotypes is the lack of
personal, concrete familiarity that individuals have with persons in other
racial or ethnic groups. Lack of familiarity encourages the lumping together of
unknown individuals ".
Ethnic stereotypes have a visible influence on a daily life of different
ethnic minorities. According to research by Kevin O. Cokley and Collette
Chapman ethnic stereotypes to a large extent influence the scope of the
achievements of an individual. Sufficiently descriptive generalization about
the development of ethnic stereotypes was made by Frances E. Aboud and Shelagh
A. Skerry (McGill University). The development of ethnic attitudes was found to
parallel certain developments in affective, perceptual, and cognitive
processes, such as the differentiation between groups and between individuals.
An interesting investigation of Ethnic Minority-Majority Asymmetry in National
Attitudes around the World was made by the group of researches: Christian
Staerklé, Jim Sidanius, Eva G. T. Green, Ludwin E. Molina. All the
results show that in spite of global international integration ethnic “borders”
are still quite strong, that leads to a lot of misunderstanding and conflicts
occurrence in ethnic sphere.
With active migration which intensified last years it seems very
interesting to study ethnic stereotypes in Kharkov, which is
"students’" city where you can find applicants from all over the
world. Under these conditions, tracking trends in formating of ethnic
conceptions makes it possible to make adjustments to the educational
activities, which in turn would avoid the ethnic conflicts and increase ethnic
tolerance.
The object of this study is
ethnic stereotypes. The purpose of
the study was to examine the specificity of ethnic stereotypes among students. Methods: interview, questionnaires,
statistical treatment.
The study highlights the different opinions about formation and functioning
of ethnic stereotypes among the students (17-23 years old). Comparative
analysis was carried out with similar characteristics in the group of 35-55
years old respondents.
Analysis of data related to the emotions that arise in person in the
interaction with people of various nations, showed that students admire such
nations as: French, Italian, Russian (base is an appearance and emotional
appeal), the older generation has similar feelings to such nations as: Chinese,
German, Russian and Belarusian (base is the level of culture, economic
prosperity).
Seems paradoxical that the nationalities which were estimated negatively
(the Germans) are admirable at the same time. Admiration to the Germans is
caused by high levels of economic and social guarantees, for the Chinese by the
commitment to tradition and hard work.
The same discomfort for all respondents is caused by the inhabitants of the
Caucasus and the Arabs. The indifferent attitude is showed to Americans and
British. Significant differences were not registered.
For the question: "How would you characterize the foreigners?"
the following results were received:
• Everything depends on the person (60% in the group number 1, 58% in the
group number 2);
• They are interesting (20% and 22% respectively);
• Everything depends on the situation (8% in the group number 1 and 10% in
the group number 2);
• Unpleasant (10% in the group number 1 and 8% in the group number 2);
• They are provocative (2% in both groups).
It should be noted that the written responses and verbal support of answers
do not match. The records were declared in mostly positive responses, whereas
the verbal assessments often differed with aggression and low levels of
tolerance.
On the question: "How do you think, what has shaped your opinion about
the other nations?" the following results were received:
• Mass media (80% responses in the group number and 1,82% in the group
number 2);
• Some specific case (15% and 13% respectively);
• Family (5% in the both groups).
With regard to common characteristics and the similarity of nations 40% of
students do not feel that they have something in common with foreigners.
60% of students believe that the common is the presence of the sense of
humor and belonging to Homo sapiens, whereas the older generation believe
(100%) that there are universal values that unite all the nations and peoples.
Differences in common stereotypes in the groups were not identified.
Respondents were asked to describe stereotypes they know, the following results
were received.
The largest number of stereotypical thoughts was noted about the Americans.
The Russians took the second place.
Next ones were the British with definitions: pedantic, leave without saying
goodbye, have a bowler hat and cane, and French: wear berets; eat exotic food
(frogs). The list continued by people of Transcaucasia, Italians, African Americans and Gypsies.
On the question "What do you think, how foreigners appreciate
you?" the following data were obtained: 1) students: positively – 55%,
indifferent – 40% and negatively – 5%; 2) the older generation: positively –
50%, indifferent – 45% and negatively – 5%.
Results obtained in our study suggest downranging of knowledge about other
nationalities. The respondents referred to a limited set of positions within
the positive attitudes regarding people of other nations, while negative
attitudes extend to a broader range of nationalities. Contradictions in the
conception of members of other cultures were noted.
The widespread occurrence of rough ethnic stereotypes with quite
caricatural characteristics takes place.
There were no big differences between the ethnic stereotypes of students
and the older generation, despite the dramatic differences in their
socialization.
Results obtained in our study suggest the following conclusions:
1. Problem of ethnic stereotypes in conditions of European integration,
especially among students, is now particularly important.
2. Ethnic stereotypes of today's students do not have a big difference with
the ethnic stereotypes of the older generation, regardless of age of the
respondents the content of stereotypes basically has coarsened overact
character.
3. Contradictions in the conceptions of people of other nationalities were
noted.
4. Discrepancy between the declared ratings of other cultures and real
attitudes take place.
5. Some euphoric reaction should be noted when the respondents in half of
the cases are confident in a positive attitude towards them from foreigners,
while about 40% of them declare their indifference to the opinions about them
from representatives of other cultures.
On the base of above mentioned, one of the priorities of higher education
of nowadays should be development of students' high level of tolerance, in
particular ethnic and cultural tolerance, to help to move away from rough
stereotypes, which in many cases lead to misunderstandings and ethnic
conflicts.
Literature:
1. Почебут Л.Г. Социальные
общности. Психология толпы, социума, этноса/ Л.Г.
Почебут. – СПб.: Издательство С.-Петерб. университета, 2005. – 288с.
2. Стефаненко Т.Г. Этнопсихология / Т.Г. Стефаненко. – М.: Аспект Пресс. – 368 с.
3. Staerklé C., Sidanius J., Green E., Molina L. Ethnic Minority-Majority Asymmetry in National Attitudes around the World: A Multilevel Analysis // Political Psychology. – Vol. 31. - <