Culture as a factor in the formation of vital values among Russian students and students from Ouzbekiston

According to the ideas of sociologist R. Inglehart, the key factors in the formation of values are as follows: the level of economic development of one’s country of residence, and the dominant culture in those conditions where a person’s socialization occurred while they were growing up. Various countries form “cultural zones”, due to the historical connection between cultural, religious and ideological viewpoints. Shifts in values are strongly dependent on these views, while the effects of economic development fade into the background. Culture as a social institute allows us to differentiate people who represent varying ethnicities: it is engrained in one’s mentality and forces a certain way of thinking upon a person. Depending on cultural tradition, certain nations are religious, while others are not. Some nations consider divorce and abortions to be acceptable, while others condemn both. Vital values are the cultural imprint which determines people’s perception of the world. Using a comparative study of the influence which Russian and Uzbek cultures have on the vital values of students at the Northern (Arctic) Federal University, the author demonstrates the importance of traditions and practices typical to any given culture. After defining the differences between Russian and Uzbek cultures, which are expressed in language, religion, norms and traditions, further analysis is dedicated to examining key vital values. Attention is directed towards three groups of respondents: Uzbeks from Uzbekistan, Russians from Uzbekistan and Russians from Russia. Among the main vital values considered are “family, matrimony”, “education”, “love”, “friends”, “material well-being”, “religion”, “leisure time”, “health”, “patriotism”, “participation in political activities” and “working activity”. Cited is a ranked list in order of the importance of each value for all three groups. Conducted is an analysis of the content of said values, which allows for determining the similarities and differences between these groups, as well as how cultural components affect each one of them. This study resulted in revealing those values which are mainly dependent on cultural traditions, as well as those which have no effect on them.

life values, students, culture, foreign students, education, language, religion, norms.

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