From the practice of using clinical interviews in the study of mentality

Abstract

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the depth and breadth of the concept of "mentality" in psychology. Based on this, the empirical study of mentality presents certain difficulties. In our study, we proceed from the understanding that mentality is a superstructure that determines the existential meaning of phenomena, processes that distinguish the psychological makeup of a particular society. The research is aimed at studying the yakut mentality through the prism of family relations. It is assumed that the family, as the primary institution of socialization, is the most important mechanism ensuring the continuity of traditional cultural values and the stability of mentality in a changing world.Materials and Methods. The article describes the results of a clinical interview conducted within the framework of psychological counseling. The advantages of a clinical interview in the study of the deep, qualitative features of the mentality of the people are revealed. The study was conducted in Yakutia from 2018 to 2021. The sample size is 99 people. The age of respondents is from 54 to 82 years. Of these, 87 are women, 12 are men.Results. The results of psychological consultations are presented in the form of detailed texts and tables reflecting the quantitative results of content analysis. Clinical interview protocols are analyzed using microsemantic analysis and content analysis.Discussion and Conclusions. It is revealed that the traditional values of the sakha people are preserved in the yakut mentality: respect for elders, family as an extended family. Modern yakut families adhere to the norms of the traditional yakut family: child-centrism, parenting in the children's system, the active participation of grandparents in the upbringing of children, the choice of an informal head of the family not by gender, but by personal characteristics. The participation of several generations in the upbringing of children, the expansion of family resources at the expense of the genus are mechanisms that ensure the continuity of mentality in the yakut culture.