The Life Goals and Strategies of Russians in the Context of Passionarity

Abstract

This article analyzes how Russians’ life values and attitudes have evolved over the past decade. It examines two mental models—activist (passionarist) and “passivist”—and their development over time. The criteria for applying these models are inclinations toward an internal versus external locus of control, self-sufficiency versus dependence on the state, and struggle versus adaptation to external circumstances. These criteria are used to distinguish between passionarists (who maintain activist attitudes), “passivists” (who consistently hold passivist attitudes), and an intermediate group (exhibiting mixed attitudes). The article also examines the way in which the passionarists and “passivists” see the situation in the country and its prospects for development; the place held by these groups in society’s social structure; the traits manifested in the setting and attainment of life goals; and these groups’ adaptive potential in times of crisis. Our research took the form of Russia-wide representative surveys conducted by the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Sociology and the Russian Public Opinion Research Center beginning in 2005. Our evidence shows that having activist/passionarist values is associated with higher social status and financial success, ambition, a rational approach to devising life goals and the strategies for attaining them, and strong life planning abilities. Our conclusion is that passionarists have a firmer footing in social reality than most people and are better able to participate in society’s development, including during crisis periods.