Psychology
O.Aimaganbetova, A.Aimaganbetov
Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan
Analysis of emotionally – assessed components of ethnic stereotypes in
the context of inter – ethnic relationship
Key words: ethnic stereotypes,
inter – ethnic relations, autho and heterostereotypes, emotionally – assessed
component.
I.INTRODUCTION: Research of ethnic stereotypes
in the context of inter – ethnic relations have more than a centenary history.
In 1899 V.Du Bua’s work “Philadelphian Negro” devoted to ethnic perception of
black and white representatives of both ethnic groups (1). Method of social
distance developed by S.Bogurdus became the basis for development of
theoretical – methodologic basis to study ethnic stereotypes (2). D. Kats and
K.U. Breily carried out one of the first empirical research of ethnic
stereotypes with the help of “ Method of assignment of features”. Then G.M.
Gilbert carried out longitude research in the center of it there were dynamics
of their transformation rather than ethnic stereotypes themselves. T.Adorno’s
investigations became most significant
for study of ethnic stereotype (3).
Ethnic stereotypes’ problem was also in the centre of A.Teshfel’s attention
(4).
In regards to
Kazakhstan current realities of inter – ethnic relations in the republic define
significance of this problem not only in the theoretical – methodologic but
also in the applied, empirical meaning.
This has defined actuality of our research.
II. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: G.U.Soldatova’s “ Diagnostic
tests of relations” was used within the bounds of research of demonstration of
ethnic stereotypes in the context of inter – ethnic relations. The main
modeling principle of which was based on the measurement of emotionally –
assessed component as a dominant in the structure of ethnic stereotypes. Thus,
study of ethnic stereotypes on the basis of this method is peculiar projection
of existing inter – ethnic relations.
In our research
modified variant of a test when the pairs of qualities were chosen from the set
of personal characteristics which are the most often referred to the
representatives of their own or other national – ethnic group and which are
defined as stereotype. Correspondingly a positive position on scale “attractive
– unattractive” was found for each pair. Exactly such kind of axis of
assessment acts as filter with the most divergent emotional meanings.
Use of
“ Diagnostic tests of relations” allowed to measure the following parameters of
ethnic stereotypes: ambivalence ( degree of emotional definiteness of ethnic
stereotypes), evidence (strength of
stereotype effect) and direction ( amount of common emotional
orientation of the person). Their quantity indices calculated by the formula,
were considered as empiric indicators of emotional –assessed components of
ethnic stereotypes. Statistic calculations of
presentation of these indicators were carried out with the use of the
package of applied computer programmes of universal treatment of table data of
Microsoft Excel XP “SPSS”
Coefficient of
ambivalence was defined by the formula:
Coefficient of evidence was
defined by us by the formula:
Direction or diagnostic
coefficient of stereotype characterizing sign or amount of common emotional
orientation of the person relative to the given object was defined by the
formula:
]
At that calculation
of the evidence coefficient was carried out subject to the mark sign. As a
result of this not only ethnic stereotypes’ intensity but their positive or
negative direction was defined as well. Common evidence coefficient of the
given stereotype was defined subject to direction coefficient of all pairs of
qualities as their average arithmetic, higher the ambivalence coefficient then
relation of the given object is characterized by more indefiniteness. Besides
while studying absolute indicator of diagnostic coefficient level of
self-assessment of “I” image was investigated.
In connection with
this that at one and the same indicator level of self - assessment of two under test may be interpreted in one case as
high ( if diagnostic coefficient of “I” image is equal or higher than similar
indicator for “Ideal” image0, and in the other as low (if distance between
diagnostic coefficient of “I” images and “ideal” will be considerable), then
relying upon the research of V.P. Pavlenko for the self-assessement analysis
difference between diagnostic of “Ideal” image and “I myself” image were
used.
Similar
approach was used for the research of ethnic preferences as well when degree of
ethnic groups with the “Ideal” image was defined. In the digital expression
this indicator was defined as a difference between diagnostic coefficients of
“Ideal” image and image of a typical representative of Kazakh or Russian
Ranging the results of “Ideal” image comparison with the character types of
different national – ethnic groups information about common system of inter –
ethnic preferences of the given respondent was received.
Following V.P.Pavlenko’s recommendations
to analyze ethnic identification degree of coincidence of “I” image with the
images of different ethnic groups were studied. At that rate of ethnic
identification in digital expression was studied as a difference between
diagnostic coefficients on the one hand “I myself” image and on the hand autho
– and heterostereotypes.
III. RESULTS: Thus, quantity analysis of
emotional – assessed components of ethnic stereotypes carried out with the help
“Diagnostic tests of relations” showed that there is difference between
characteristics of myself, “My ideal” and typical representatives of Kazakh and
Russian ethnos on the parameters – ambivalence: Kazakh –respondents –– 0,52%; 0,36%; 0,53%; 0,54% and Russian
–respondents – 0,5%;0,38%;0,51%; 0,44% (Almaty); Kazakh –respondents
-0,52%;0,43%;0,53%;0,61% and Russian
–respondents – 0,54%;0,25%; 0,63%; 0,37% (Shymkent); Kazakh –respondents – 0,58%;0,44%;0,62%; 0,62% and Russian
–respondents – 0,42%; 0,27%; 0,65%; 0,42% (Aktobe).
Considering
these data we one make conclusion that students –respondents of Kazakh and
Russian national – ethnic groups living in Almaty don’t give vivid preference
to positive or negative evaluation pole. Polarization on the ‘My ideal” and
“Typical Russian” scales is characteristic to Kazakh and Russian respondents
living in Shymkent. Kazakh and Russian respondents from Aktobe have low
polarization on the same scales “My ideal” and “Typical Russian.
Rate – evidence of
emotionally – evaluated component of ethnic stereotype was defined by the same
characteristics: “I myself”, “My ideal”, “Typical kazakh”, “ Typical Russian”.
Consequently the following quantitative results were receieved: Kazakh
–respondents –– 0,19%; 0,21%; 0,17%;
0,22% and Russian –respondents – 0,14%;0,31%;0,15%; 0,10% (Almaty); Kazakh
respondents – 0,14%;0,31%;0,15%;0,10% and Russian respondents – 0,31%; 0,27%;
0,19%; 0,31% (Shymkent); kazakh respondents – 0,12%;0,3%;0,13%;0,11% and
Russian respondents – 0,19%;0,3%;0,1%;0,25% (Aktobe).
Direction of diagnostic coefficient of
ethnic stereotype designating dimension of common emotional orientation on the
same characteristics I myself”, “My ideal”, “Typical kazakh”, “ Typical
russian” is presented by the following quantitative results: Kazakh respondents – 0,3%; 0,5%; 0,31%;0,29%
and Russian respondents - 0,37%;0,51%;
0,33%;0,38% (Almaty); Kazakh respondents – 0,31%;0,4%;0,3%;0,21% and Russian
respondents – 0,25%; 0,6%; 0,21%; 0,47% (Shymkent); kazakh respondents –
0,22%;0,41%;0,22%;0,19% and russian respondents – 0,46%;0,57%;0,11%;0,41%
(Aktobe).
Consequently the most high ambivalence
coefficient determining low polarization of marks of opposite qualities of each
pair characteristic to the image
“ Typical Kazakh”
except Russian respondents living in Almaty.
Research
of evidence of emotionally – evaluated component of ethnic stereotypes showed
that the most positive autho-stereotypes are characteristic for Kazakh students
living in Shymkent and Aktobe. Coincidence of images “I myself” and “Typical
Russian” are characterstic for Russian students from Shymkent. Quantitative
indicator of “Typical Russian”and “Typical Kazakh” for Russian students from
Aktobe and Kazakh students from Almaty is much hugher than the image “I
myself”.
More
negative heterostereotype is characteristic for Russian students living in
Aktobe and Almaty where the difference between quantitative images “I myself”
and “typical kazakh” comparatively large.
Study
of direction of ethnic stereotype showed that respondents – Russian students
form Aktobe and Almaty and Kazakh respondents living in Almaty more emotionally
oriented to the representatives of their own …
Study
of the self –assessement level on the basis of quantityanalysis, represent by itself
difference between coefficients of “Ideal” image and “I myself” image showed
that that the highest self - assessed level is characteristic to Kazakh and
Russian students of Shymkent and the lowest for Russian students living in
Aktobe (0,22%;0,07%; 0,23%).
Study
ethnic preferences system defining the degree of coincidence of images of
ethnic groups with “My ideal “ image showed that for Kazakh respondents living
in Shymkent characteristic more high level rate of ethnic preferences (as since
difference between “My ideal image” and “Typical Kazakh” image appears to be
minimal). For Kazakhs living in Aktobe degree of coincidence of “Typical
Kazakh” and “Typical Russian”images and “My ideal” image nearly the same ( Kazakhs
– 0.18%;0,18%;0,19% and Russians – 0,18%;0,19%; 0.22%).For Russian respondents
from Almaty degree of coincidence of “My ideal” and “Typical Russian” images
higher (0,10%; 0,03%;11%).
On the
assumption of the analysis of the results of the carried research one may
conclusion that representatives of Kazakh ethnos differ by more positive
authostereotype than representatives of Russian ethnos. At the same time it is
characteristic for Russian ethnos more negative heterostereotype of kazaks, for
Kazakhs Russian heterostereotype more positive. On the whole degree of ethnic
preferences for Kazakh students respondents turned out to be less minimalthan
for Russians.
IV. CONCLUSION: Thus, study of emotionally –
evaluative component of ethnic stereotypes showed that system of interethnic
perception and interethnic idea with regard to Kazakhs to representatives of
Russian ethnos. This proves to be evidence of demonstration of in – group
favoritism at ethnic level as well as presence interethnic discrimination in some
ideas in favour of own ethnic group. Thus, in the process of interethnic
relations evaluation of not only
personal and universal characteristics but perception and understanding of
ethnic peculiarities of representatives of own and other ethnos take place.
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