Trends in the Study of Attitudes to Appearance from the Point of View of Applied Social Psychology

Objective. The review article aims to consider from the point of view of applied social psychology the phenomenon of perception, evaluation, self-esteem, concern, satisfaction with the appearance, perfectionist attitude to it and to highlight trends, directions of their study. Background. Applied and practical importance of the psychology of the appearance predetermined the accumulation of a huge amount of empirical data and the development of a number of theoretical directions. The current comparison of trends in the development of domestic and foreign psychology of the appearance, the search for directions uniting them. The article consists of three subsections, taking into account the components of the appearance, the dynamics of the attitude to appearance in accordance with the context of interaction andolfactory determinism. Methodology. An interdisciplinary approach; review and analysis of trends in the study of attitudes to appearance. Conclusions. The interdisciplinary status of the external appearance determines a wide range of research areas. The trend of studying individual components of the appearance of their perception, evaluation, self-assessment, influence on concern, satisfaction with the appearance prevails. In domestic research, the development of trends that have developed in the world psychology is carried out. Modern trends are the consideration of a holistic external appearance in different contexts of interaction, the systematization and modeling of a set of factors that determine the attitude to appearance, and its study taking into account the tasks of applied psychology.

“The Casus of Reciprocity” and Other “Inconveniences with Identity”

The concept of “identity”, introduced into the psychological lexicon by E. Erickson and empirically verified by his followers, has now become firmly used by representatives of not only the entire spectrum of the humanities, but also politicians, political scientists, and publicists. At the same time, immediately after the release of the first edition of E. Erickson’s work “Identity: Youth and Crisis”, serious doubts were expressed about the validity and substantive value of using this concept in Russian scientific discourse, which have become unexpectedly relevant today. So what happens to “identity”? Where does a scientific concept end and a common cliche begin? Where is the border between the study of real scientific problems and pseudo-scientific activity? An attempt to give answers to these questions is undertaken by the following author’s thoughts.

Relationship of Ethic of Autonomy, Community and Nationalism to Russians’ Foreign Policy Attitudes

Objectives. The aim was to study the association between moral foundations and Russians’ foreign policy attitudes. Background. There is a growing interest in the factors that determine attitudes towards other peoples and countries, but the foreign policy attitudes of citizens that determine their support of the respective state’s foreign policy remain insufficiently researched. This study examines the foreign policy attitudes in the context of the Moral foundations theory. We assume that militant internationalism is related to binding moral foundations (“Loyalty”, “Respect”, “Purity”) and nationalism, while cooperative internationalism probably is based on the individualizing moral foundations (“Care” and “Justice”). Study design. Correlation design was used, followed by structural linear modeling and analysis of mediation effects. Participants. 214 university students (average age 25.18, 20% men). Measurements. A blank survey was conducted using Moral Foundations Questionnaire by J. Graham et al., the questionnaire developed on the basis of Foreign Policy Attitudes Scales by T. Gravelle et al., and Civil Identity Scale from the International Social Survey. Results. The results of structural equation modeling have confirmed the indirect relation between binding moral foundations and militant internationalism mediated by the nationalism and the direct association between cooperative internationalism and individualizing moral foundations. We also revealed that individualizing moral foundations were inversely associated to nationalism and the related militant internationalism. Conclusions. Russians’ foreign policy attitudes are related with the characteristics of the moral sphere and nationalism: Binding moral foundations indirectly (through nationalism) support militant internationalism, while individualizing moral foundations support cooperative internationalism.

Using Health Belief Model, TriRisk Model, and Fatalism to predict COVID-19 Social Distancing Compliance Behavior

Objectives. The study has a translational focus to examine the applicability of the Health Belief Model, the TriRisk model, and fatalism-belief in the context of the COVID-19 disease, specifically to test if they help us predict recommended compliance behavior. Another objective is to examine how the three components of the TriRisk model work together. Background. Amid a raging COVID-19 pandemic, governments everywhere need to deploy more targeted strategies to make social distancing effective and reduce human to human transmission of the virus. Study design. The study predicted the lockdown compliance behaviour from constructs of the TriRisk model and fatalism-belief, using multiple linear regression and mediation analysis. Participants. 357 Participants across India; age range: 15—78 years; 41.5% men and 58.5% women. Measurements. Components of the health belief model, fatalism, and recommended compliance behavior were assessed using Multi-item and single-item scales. Results. Experiential risk perception was the strongest predictor of compliance behavior, followed by perceived barriers and gender. Deliberative risk perception and affective risk perception were significantly positively correlated with compliance behavior, though not statistically significant predictors. Experiential risk perception mediated the path between cognitive risk assessment and compliance behavior. Conclusions. The present study has implications for designing and trying out compliance enhancement intervention through use of appropriate experiential risk content in designing public campaigns to increase compliance behavior.

Practice with Homeless Persons: the Prospect of the “Invisible” Personality Return

Objective. The article analyzes the practices of homeless assistance programs and the possibility of developing a methodological approach, where the restoration of the lost subjectivity of the individual will become one of the methodological foundations of the psychology of homelessness. Background. The problem of homelessness is urgent both for Russia and foreign countries. Improving the effectiveness of the re-socialization practices for people living on the street implies a deeper understanding of the psychology of the homeless by social services. Methodology. This article considers the methodological principles of the historical-evolutionary approach (A.G. Asmolov), the approach to the analysis of cultural and personal development from the viewpoint of the chronotope (N.N. Tolstykh), the principle of supra-situational activity (V.A. Petro¬vsky), the idea of personality development pathways in challenging conditions (D.A. Leontiev), etc. Conclusions. It is concluded that assistance to the homeless is of an ad hoc nature and mostly includes the provision of material and emergency support. The authors propose a comprehensive model based on the idea of the homeless personality returning and upholding the following principles: 1) retention of activity on the side of the person, 2) effort on the part of the person, 3) maintenance of oversituational activity, 4) reliance on the personality, its potential, 5) support and organization of social relations, 6) polysystem.

Cross-Cultural Differences in Love Attitudes of Belarusians and Chinese

Objectives. Study of cross-cultural differences in love attitudes of Belarusians and Chinese. Background. A large number of cross-cultural studies focus on comparing the psychological characteristics of representatives of two polar cultures — individualistic and collectivist. At the same time, little attention is paid to the study and explanation of the differences within each of these cultures. Although it is quite obvious that countries belonging to the same culture may differ significantly due to their cultural-specific features, traditions, state structure, and religions. In this regard, the study was aimed at identifying differences in such a cultural universal as love, namely, in the love attitudes of Belarusians and Chinese, who are representatives of collectivist culture. Study design. The study was conducted using a survey method. For data processing and analysis, descriptive statistics and Student t-test were used. Participants. The respondents were 1344 people, representatives of the Belarusian (men, N=544; women, N=560) and Chinese (men, N=120; women, N=120) samples, aged 17-30 years. Measurements. Love Attitudes Scale by C. Hendrik, S. Hendrik. Results. Chinese men differ from Belarusian men with higher scores of attitudes Agape, Pragma, Mania, Storge and Ludus. Belarusian women differ from Chinese women with higher Eros attitudes. In turn, Chinese women in comparison with Belarus, have higher rates of Pragma, Storge, and Ludus. At¬titudes Eros and Agape occupy the top position in the hierarchy of love attitudes of Belarusian men and women, and attitudes Agape and Pragma — in Chinese. Ludus, regardless of gender and nationality, has the least power. Conclusions. The results of the study contribute to the understanding of differences in love styles depending on belonging to Western and Eastern collectivist subcultures.

Development a Measurement of Attitudes about Ideal Government

Objective. Develop a questionnaire to measure attitudes about ideal government and analyze the psychometric properties of this tool. Background. Psychological studies showed the key role of political attitudes (conservatism/liberalism) in different forms of political activity. Conservatism-liberalism dichotomy did not correspond with actual political “agenda” in Russia that induced the question about the structure of political attitudes. Study design. To indicate the attitudes about ideal government, an online survey was conducted. The structure of political attitudes was analysed through confirmatory factor analysis, and analyses of reliability, validity, and invariance. Participants. The research consisted of 2 independent studies. About 610 participants took part at the study 1 (353 men and 257 women) over 18 years old (M=34.28; SD=13.82); and 378 participants (196 men and 182 women) over 18 years old (M=35.26; SD=10.54) at the study 2. Methods. Russian-language versions of the scales of Needs for cognitive clousure, Openness to experience (“Big Five”), Right-wing Authoritarianism, System Justification, and the author’s questionnaire of attitudes about an ideal government. Additionally, participants completed the self-categoriaiton scales about political orientations (“left-right”; “liberal-conservatives”). Results. The structure of attitudes about the ideal government consisted of “respect” and “support”. “Political respect” was correspondent to “liberal” and “left-wing” self-identification that indicated the criterion validity. At the same time, the analysis of convergent validity showed that “respect” and “support” were linked with right-wing authoritarianism and need for cognitive clousure. Conclusions. The structure of political attitudes in Russia consisted of “governmental support” and “political respect”. The current perspective discussed in the context of liberal/conservative political orientations.

The Quality of Interpersonal Relationships and Satisfaction with the Marriage of Young People

Objective. Analysis of the relationship between the assessment of interpersonal relations and satisfaction with marriage among young spouses in an official and civil marriage. Background. Against the background of the growing number of divorces, the need to analyze and understand the factors associated with marriage satisfaction among nowday’s youth is increasing in order to develop programs for overcoming difficulties in communication and maintaining relationships. Study design. The work examined the relationship between interpersonal relationships and marital satisfaction. The presence and nature of the relationship was checked through correlation, regression, factor analysis and automatic modeling (SPSS). The survey was conducted individually or in a group before the start of the pandemic. Participants. 108 young spouses, of which 30 couples, 48 respondents took part without their partners (44.44% of boys, 55.56% of girls) from 20 to 35 years old (M=28.6; SD=2.83). Measurements. Marriage Satisfaction Test Questionnaire (MAR); test questionnaire “Analysis of family anxiety” (ACT); Russian-language versions of the questionnaire “Scale of love and sympathy” and methods of researching partnerships Partnership Questionnaire (PFB); PEA questionnaire to identify the level of understanding, emotional attractiveness and authority (respect) of partners in marriage. Results. A complex system of relationships was revealed between the types of relationships between partners, indicators of family anxiety and satisfaction with marriage. Satisfaction with marriage increases in case of manifestation of love and sympathy in interpersonal relationships, experiences of emotional attraction between partners, respect and rare use of conflict behavior. Predictors of marital satisfaction have been identified, and a standard model of interpersonal relationships has been described, which allows predicting marital satisfaction at a young age. Main conclusion. There is a complex systemic relationship between the assessment of the quality of interpersonal relationships and the perception of satisfaction with marriage in young spouses and partners in a civil marriage, the knowledge of which allows you to create a model of the relationship system in order to predict the satisfaction with marriage of young people and prevent conflicts in relationships leading to their destruction.

Autonomy and Attachment in Relationships with Parents in the Context of Students’ Real Self-Determination

Objectives. Studying the relationship of autonomy and attachment in relationships with parents with real self-determination in students. Background. The growing world globalization, intercultural contradictions, confrontation within society seriously complicate the path of self-determination of modern youth. At the same time, due to technical progress and digitalization of the communication and education environment, there are significant transformations in the interaction of people in almost all spheres, including in the family. Therefore, the question of studying the most important aspects in the relationship of young people with their parents for real self-determination is especially acute. Study design. The work studied the indicators of real self-determination, attachment to parents and autonomy among students. The presence of a relationship between these parameters was established by calculating the Spearman correlation coefficient. Participants. 60 college students aged 18 to 21. Measurements. Methodology “Scale of adult attachment for close relationships”; autonomy questionnaire (authors O.A. Karabanova and N.N. Poskrebysheva); questionnaire “ORS” (author D.A. Krasilo). Results. An inverse relationship of indicators of real self-determination of students with the level of intimacy and the level of anxiety (scales of attachment to parents) was established. A direct relationship was revealed between the indicators of real self-determination and the level of autonomy. Conclusions. Proximity and anxiety (components of attachment) have a significant inverse relationship with the level of real self-determination in students. There are no significant connections between reliability (a component of attachment) and real self-determination in the sample under study. Emotional autonomy, cognitive autonomy, behavioral autonomy, and value autonomy have significant positive correlations with the level of real self-determination in students.

A Comparative Analysis of Culture Beliefs about Russia’s, Western and Eastern Civilizations among Creative Youth

Objective. The aim of this research was a comparative analysis of culture beliefs about Russia’s, Eastern and Western civilizations among the youth of Moscow City. Background. Civilization identity is the a basic constituent in forming of individual’s image of the world. Understanding and acceptance of civilization’s cultural particularities helps to save personal and social identity’s stability. But understanding of differences from other civilizations and comparison with them is no less important. Study design. The study examined the relationship between the various components of the cultural representations of civilizations. The presence and nature of the relationship was checked through correlation, qualitative and content analysis. Participants. 200 people (43% of men, 57% of women) from 18 to 2 years old, students of creative universities in Moscow, studying under the training programs for future media workers. Measurements. The study was carried out by the method of questioning, including the associative method, the method of unfinished sentences, closed and open questions. Results. The research’s results proved the hypothesis that culture beliefs of Russia’s youth are qualitatively different for each of the presented civilizations. Besides, the research discovered differences related to gender. Russia’s and Eastern civilizations turned out to be the closest for male according to the research’s results, and for female — Russia’s and Western civilizations respectively. Conclusions. There is a qualitative difference between the cultural ideas of Russian, Western and Eastern civilizations among Russian youth.