Value and meaning prerequisites for civil and patriotic self-expression of youth

Abstract

The article presents the results of an empirical study of civil and patriotic self-expression of modern Russian youth. Socio-political transformations in the domestic and foreign policies require a revision of the patriotic education of youth based on basic, national and historical values. Changes in the architecture of interstate relations call for individuals who are ready to defend the priorities of their country in various spheres of life, which is impossible without a conscious civil and patriotic attitude towards the Motherland. The theoretical and methodological basis for the study was the systematic approach developed by Russian researchers B. F. Lomov, V. S. Merlin, V. D. Nebylitsin, A. I. Krupnov and others; a holistic functional concept for the study of personality traits and character traits (Krupnov, 1994), and studies of patriotism (Kudinov 2018; Kudinov 2023; Gavrilushkin 2012; Lutovinov 1997; Potemkin 2009; etc.). We studied civil and patriotic self-expression using the patriogram questionnaire (Kudinov, Potemkin 2008) and an original questionnaire called Indicator of civil and patriotic selfexpression. In order to identify the system of value priorities, we used an original Current value orientations questionnaire. In total 163 respondents aged 16–22 years took part in the empirical study, of which 47 were high school students, 82 — university students and 34 — working young people in Moscow. All respondents have Russian citizenship, were born and have lived in Russia since birth, and identify themselves as Russians. The obtained empirical data, followed by mathematical and statistical analysis, made it possible to establish specific features in the expression of current values in the indicated social and status groups of young people. Among schoolchildren, the dominant values recorded were personalityoriented, communicative/emotional and material. For students, the main values were career/pragmatic, status/role, and moral/ethical. Working young people noted material, personalityoriented, and communicative/emotional values as priorities. Analysis of the patriogram established medium and medium-low levels of this quality in all groups of young people. The group of working youth showed the highest results. Analysis of correlation dependencies establish direct statistically significant dependencies between the general level of patriotism and the moral/ethical, civil/patriotic and communicative/emotional values in all the participants. The material and career/pragmatic values demonstrated inverse dependencies. The empirical data obtained indicate the need to improve educational activities aimed at the formation of basic values and the development of patriotism at different stages of education. The study found that a little more than 40% of respondents considered themselves patriots; however, they were not ready to openly demonstrate their patriotic feelings due to various circumstances. On the other hand, more than 50% of participants showed a largely neutral or indifferent attitude towards their country, its history, achievements, traditions and culture.