Peculiarities of Display of Ethnic and National Identity of Students-Psychologists

Abstract

In the article it is theoretically examined the definitions of ethnos, nation, identity, analyzed the main approaches in studying ethnic and national identity in the works of M. Barrett, O. Bychko, M. Bondar, M. Gibernau, P. Gna­tenko, E. Erikson, Y. Mukhlynkina, L. Spivak, V. Shevchenko and the others. It is presented the types of ethnic identity according to O. Sadokhin: normal; ethnocentric; ethnodominating; ethnic fanaticism; ethnic identification; ethnonihilism; ambivalent ethnicity.

It was found out empirically that in social identity of students-psychologists, regardless of the year of studying, prevails such basic categories of personal life as: family identity, professional (student) identity, intellectual identity. In their identity matrix, national identity is not topical enough, but gradually its meaning increases; indices of religious and civil identities are also increasing. Students-psychologists of the academic year 2014–2015, unlike students of previous years of studying, have higher indices according to the scale of ethnic fanaticism and positive ethnic identity which is the evidence of commitment to own nation’s ideals, tolerant attitude towards cultural differences, integration of positive attitude to own people with positive attitude to other peoples. At the same time, there is gradual lowering of the level of ethnonihilism and ethnic indifference, this means that the examined ones aspire to support own ethnocultural values, show interest in ethnic norms and traditions of their people; some increase of self-definition according to ethnic characteristic is observed among the respondents.