Distinctive features civic and national identity

M.K.Akimova *, S.V.Persiyantseva **

* Doctor of Psychology, Professor, "Psychological Institute" Russian Academy of Education

** PhD in Psychology Psychological Institute" Russian Academy of Education

Abstract: Actual problem of strengthening the unity of such a multicultural country such as Russia, are the formation of citizens’ national and civic identity. These types of identity are not innate characteristics. They develop awareness of the accumulated community national culture: language, household traditions, Faith, Art, and the values of civil society: respect for human dignity, respect for human rights and freedoms, including persons belonging to minorities. The article tells about the distinctive features of the two kinds of identity. From different theoretical positions analyzed the key concept of "identity." Material presented empirical research, which was attended by students of higher educational institutes of Moscow.

Keywords: identity, civil society, state and national level, the degree of acceptance of civic values.

In a situation of world globalization, which affects the process of socio-economic development, political ideology, factors to modernize, the question arises: how important it is to preserve their own national identity? This topical issue concerned citizens of our country in the face of inevitable repetition modern scientific and technological developments, erase obstacles to the movement of new strategies, ideas, people, goods, information and telecommunications revolution.

Most people connect their future with Russia; consider themselves responsible for the preservation and enhancement of the national wealth. For these people the concept of "good life" means "creation". In the process of creating a national culture, its use, national identity serves as a support all creative activity. Quality preservation and development of national identity is possible if the conscious support of the population of the state, clear national policy and ideology, human dignity, conservation leadership and set quality of life benefits.

In psychology, the concept of "identity" is manifested in different ways. Firstly, the identity of the individual is regarded as a core, i.e. inner essence of man, which is closely related to value-semantic sphere (Jung, 1950; Frankl, 1985). Secondly, the identity of a person as an integrity, i.e. understanding of who he is, what his experiences, memories, what his past (Erikson, 1968). Third, the identity of a person who belongs to a social group, "merging" with it, taking its values, rules, attitudes. Personality defines a group as "their own", that also means a group of "others" (Tleuzh, 2010).

Civil and national identity depend on the economic, political and social conditions of the population. Natural development of national identity impede such processes as cultural standardization, value universalization, global migration, information and more.

In this paper, we consider a national identity on the state-national level - as an understanding man, not only because of its involvement in a particular ethnic group, but also to the involvement of the State in its national group. In considering national identity is important to consider the importance of cultural space, which is crucial. It is formed by identifying the individual with the world outlook, ideals, norms, historically, in the national culture. It is the national culture as a system of certain material and spiritual values, creating ethnic traits of the man, "national type" personality. Knowing the ratio of students to their national culture, its values, norms, it is possible to conclude that the degree of national identity and the level of its manifestation.

Civic identity is treated by us as an association of citizens in the community, based on shared values of civil society: human equality, recognition, respect, protection of their rights and freedoms of others. Civil society is composed of people of high intellectual, social, cultural, economic and moral status, a developed legal relations exhibiting civic activism, protesting against injustice, understand national interests.

Foundations of civil and national identity clearly reflected in the Constitution of the Russian Federation. It is said that, the multinational people of the Russian Federation, coupled by a common destiny on their own land, says the rights and freedoms of the individual. Calls for civil peace and accord. Saves the state unity, proceeding from the universally recognized principles of equality and self-determination of peoples. Honors the memory of ancestors who have conveyed the belief in goodness and justice, love and respect for one's homeland, to his people, to the nation as a whole. Asserts the inviolability of the democratic foundations, striving to ensure the welfare and prosperity of future generations, recognizing ourselves as part of the global community.

In previous studies examining civic identity as the degree of acceptance of civic values, was found to influence the level of education on the level of acceptance of the values of civil society (Akimovа, 2013). In this study we investigated the characteristics of the national identity and the degree of acceptance of civic values of students of higher educational institutions of Moscow.

The study involved 92 students of different nationalities (Russian, Armenians, Jews), of different ages enrolled in different programs: day and evening. The study was organized as follows: the first group of n = 38 students (age 18-22 years, full time); the second group of n = 54 (age 26-41 years, evening classes).

For the diagnosis of national identity based on the method of verbal communication - an interview that was conducted on a common framework with strictly detailed questions. The purpose of diagnostics: determination of the level of formation of national identity among different groups of students. Analysis of the results showed that the two groups of students consider themselves citizens of the Russian Federation. They demonstrate respect for their national heritage, learn the system of values, norms, communication is carried out in the framework of the national community.

The study of civic identity as the degree of acceptance of civic values was performed using the methodology developed by M.K. Akimovа, E.I. Gorbachevа. The technique consists of 27 paintings depicting situations. Subject identifies himself with painted characters, gives a particular assessment everyday situations, which is understood as the degree of acceptance by students of civic values. For each student gets the answer from (-2) to 2 points. All the tasks are distributed technique to 8 scales: the rights of ethnic minorities, gay rights, political rights, honor and dignity, to democratic freedoms, the rights of the disadvantaged (mercy), the rights of persons with disabilities, to Russia (patriotism).

Taken into account when interpreting the results overall level of acceptance of civic values and the average index of the groups. The students of the first group (n = 38) arithmetic mean of 9.04 (standard deviation 13.3). Arithmetic mean in the second group of students (n = 54), 6.24 (standard deviation 17.8). Using the criterion of difference (t-Student test) showed that, despite the apparent differences between the groups in terms of the average of the significant differences between the samples were found.

Thus, these data suggest that maintaining national traditions, students have two groups of active citizenship, taking civil values, given their moral and legal and pragmatic basis.

References:

1. Akimova M.K. Conditions and factors that influence the formation of the phenomenon of civic identity. Proceedings of the XIV International readings in memory of Vygotsky's "Psychology of Consciousness: Origins and prospects of studying." Moscow: Russian State University for the Humanities, 2013.

2. Erikson E. Identity: youth and crisis. New York: w.w. Norton&Company o INC, 1968.

3. Frankl V. Man's Search for Meaning. Washington: Square Press, 1985.

4. Jung C. G. Psychologische Typen.  Zurich : Rascher Verlag, 1950.

5. Tleuzh A.Kh. Construction of the Russian collective identity. Moscow: Socio-humanitarian knowledge, 2010.