Formation of patriotic values as a predictor of psychological and moral stability of young men of conscription age

Abstract

Introduction. In the conditions of confronting external threats and the need to respond to numerous challenges of modernity, the problem of identifying the predictors of psychological and moral stability of an individual is characterised by special relevance and significance. The aim of the research is to study the extent of formation of patriotic values as a predictor of psychological and moral stability in young people of conscription age. Materials and methods. The research was carried out in four Russian Federation entities: Arkhangelsk-, Kaliningrad-, Murmansk- and Leningrad regions. The total number of respondents was 1,050 – young men aged 16 to 20 (conscription age). The following techniques were used in the research: theoretical methods (analysis of the research subject through investigating statutory documents, psychological and pedagogical literature; synthesis, generalisation, comparison and systematisation of the obtained data), and empirical methods (questioning, testing and interviewing). To achieve the set targets, the following diagnostic tools were used: the Constructive patriotism questionnaire; the Values materialism questionnaire; the Scale of psychological well-being by C. Ryff; the “Behaviour self-regulation style – SSP-98” questionnaire by V.I. Morosanova. Results. It was found that the number of respondents with the formed constructive patriotism prevails twice as much among young people of conscription age. At the same time, it is worth noting that in fact, one in three young men of conscription age who took part in the survey (31.8%) have formed blind patriotism (pseudo-patriotism, patriotism of obedience, ignorance and intolerance). Young people of conscription age with pronounced constructive patriotism, compared to the group of young people with blind patriotism, have more expressed significant basic values: “Independence”; “Power”; “Achievements”; “Traditions”; “Safety”; “Universalism”; “Benevolence”. Meanwhile, the group of young people of conscription age with pronounced blind patriotism demonstrate mostly two basic values: “Stimulation”; “Conformism”. Young people of conscription age with expressed constructive patriotism have statistically significant differences on the scale “Personal growth”. It was also revealed that they have a significantly higher overall level of self-regulation and the levels of individual self-control of various regulatory processes and personal regulation properties according to five indicators (“Modelling”, “Programming”, “Evaluation of results”, “Flexibility”, “Independence”), compared to the group of respondents with the formed blind patriotism. Conclusion. The study provides important data on the extent of the formation of patriotic values serving as a predictor of psychological and moral stability in young people of conscription age. The obtained results are in demand, being relevant since they make it possible to design the personality education and development processes with regard for the bilateral nature of interconditionality of patriotism relative to a person’s psychological and moral stability