Motivational and evaluative characteristics of the differentiation of “friends” and “aliens” in a multiethnic teenage environment

Abstract

The author of the article refers to the socio-psychological analysis of the motivational and evaluative foundations of differentiation by adolescents of “ours” and “strangers” in the modern multi-ethnic sociocultural environment. The strengthening of migration flows creates a special socio-cultural situation in Russia, when there are practically no mono-ethnic regions left and adolescents have to integrate into a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment. Thus, socialisation carries potential risks and threats associated with rejection of “others”, their alienation, the growth of nationalism, xenophobia, racial and religious intolerance among adolescents and youth. The author cites the results of his own research on social distance among adolescents in relation to the socio-demographic situation in Central Russia and reflects on the possibilities of anticipating the development of a negative attitude of adolescents towards representatives of “other” peoples and cultures. The article presents the results of an empirical socio-psychological research, in the course of which the motives of differentiation by adolescents of “ours” and “strangers”, the real problems of building social communications in adolescents and youth were analysed. Using a representative sample, the author shows the grounds that adolescents name the motivational base of social differentiation, the differences between such motives among Russian, Belarusian and Armenian adolescents. The author pays special attention to the need for competent socio-psychological support of the process of ethnic socialisation of adolescents in a multi-ethnic environment, the use of the socialising potential of reference adolescent and youth communities, the activation of the involvement of school and family in ensuring the formation of the ethnocultural identity of modern adolescents.