Экспериментальное изучение восприятия русских и вьетнамцев русскими респондентами (Памяти Ю.А. Сорокина)

Abstract

The authors view the research presented in the article as the further elaborating on the investigational approaches to ethnic identification and self-identification processes developed by Yu. Sorokin (a series of works under the title of “Ethnic conflictology”). The article describes preliminary results of the experimental study aimed at investigating the Russian-Vietnamese mutual perceptions found in the corresponding languages and cultures. Students of Sechenov University (n=109) took part in the questionnaire-based pilot study providing qualitative data for the reconstruction of ethnic “self-portraits” and “portraits” of Russians and Vietnamese. The study group was regarded homogeneous in terms of their linguistic and cultural background. The comparative analysis of the results obtained showed both common and specific characteristics that comprised characterological “portrait” of the Vietnamese and “self-portrait” developed by the Russian respondents. For instance, kindness turned out to be theonly common characteristics included by the respondents in both “portraits”. The most frequent mentions in the Russian self-identification were patience and courage, while the Vietnamese were described as hard-working and joyful. Specific appearance, national food, and material culture were mentioned to make up for the lack of ideas about the Vietnamese generalized (collective) character traits. The Russian anthroponymic “self-portrait” included the following categories: writers and poets (Russian literature), scientists, political leaders, and cosmonauts. The authors point out that historical figures of Russia were mentioned by the respondents more often than contemporary anthroponyms. Personified “portrait” of the Vietnamese nation was substantially undercharacterized; as the majority of respondents stated lack of knowledge about the Vietnamese culture and provided no names at all.It is believed that this large-scale international research project will provide new data on the Russian-Vietnamese mutual perceptions as a result of the processes of ethnic identification and self-identification. The research aims to develop Yuri Sorokin’s hypothesis that ethnic “portraits” and “self-portraits” demonstrate axiological and cognitive attitudes of their authors and have reduced and attributive nature.