National features of the Russian mentality. Mentality: how the genetic code of the people affects our thinking
“Russia is a country with the most friendly people!” So often they say about us. But let's go outside and look around. Something doesn't seem right, does it?
Russians are really an unusual nation. It seems that only in our country absolute indifference can coexist with noble responsiveness, and generosity and hospitality with stone faces a la “what are you staring at?”
Psychologists all over the world have been puzzled for more than a decade about why we Russians are so strange. They immediately recall feudal oppression, autocratic tsarist power, famine and other suffering, which, in their opinion, did not exist in Europe itself. Well, you know, everything there is, by definition, good and beautiful from time immemorial. This is how we think, this is how the Europeans themselves try to maintain their image.
American psychologist Nicholas Bright wrote: “Russians have experienced a lot in the course of their history. But, thanks to the idea of collective empathy, they were able not only to preserve the unity of the national spirit, but also to multiply it, to create an absolute egregore of sincerity, which often borders on the absurd.” Sounds good, although a little disturbing, right? Let's remember the main features of the Russian mentality.
We can easily be called rude. Yes, what is there so it is. It doesn't cost us anything to argue and argue with the authorities, without even thinking about the consequences. We'd love to send a man who accidentally stepped on our foot to hell. In our language arsenal there will always be sarcastic rhymes for any word, and the flamboyance and variety of Russian non-literary is simply amazing. It is in the order of things for us to hear rudeness in response to the most innocent request. It’s not too common for us to look into each other’s eyes, just smile or say “hello / thank you” in the store.
At the same time, Russians, as scientists say, live by the "principle of catholicity." Simply put, we are always together and hold on to each other. We don't seem to care at all about other people's opinions. But at the same time, we celebrate all the holidays, gathering 20 people, and for any reason, whether it's Plumber's Day or Easter, we call all relatives. We are always up to date personal life neighbors from the fifth floor, saleswomen from the store around the corner, the janitor, and anyone else. Foreigners can't understand our habit of arranging many hours of kitchen conversations or laying out our story up to the fifth knee to a random fellow traveler on the bus.
What are we really like in this national dualism? sincere. We simply do not hide any feelings and emotions. If we have fun, then to the fullest, if we are angry, then so that the earth trembles and the whole neighborhood hears. We do not hesitate to be lazy and blame the state, God and magnetic storms. As children, we are not ready to take responsibility and decide something. Instead, we firmly believe that the neighbor's child has better toys. We are so sincere that we do not want to support advertising patriotism and believe social advertising. We have been talking for years about how bad it is to live in Russia, but we will stand up for our Motherland if at least some foreigner speaks badly about it. By the way, about foreigners.
Thinking about the paradoxes of Russian benevolence, I wanted to directly ask the inhabitants of other countries how they see us - to look at Russia through the eyes of foreigners? Oddly enough, not as gloomy and harsh as it might seem. For example, my acquaintance, a forty-year-old English rocker, said that we are funny and know how to joke and have fun. But several Americans claimed that Russians are very smart, much smarter than many other nations. Travelers eager to learn about the peculiarities of the Russian mentality and get to know the mysterious Russian soul, all as one say that you will not be left alone in Russia: they will not only show you the way, but also see you off, chat, invite you to visit, gather a whole company and throw a feast in your honor.
Once I happened to meet a Frenchman who hitchhiked all the way to Vladivostok, stopping briefly in large cities, so he wanted to look at our country from the inside. On banal question: “And how is it?”, he replied: “It turned out that everything that they write about you on the Internet is not true! It's a pity, I really wanted to see the bears and these hats. Seriously, when I came to the next city, I didn't have any plan or a ready route of what to do and where to go. The people who were ready to give me shelter and show me the place where they live were themselves. Having visited a dozen cities, I realized that I did not understand anything. Now I know only one thing: Russia is a cool country!”
So what, it turns out, we are not such beeches, right? Yes, we really don't smile too often. By the way, some foreigners also note this. Everything is right, this happens again because we are too sincere: why, in fact, smile if you don’t want to? Here you want, and be sure to smile. At the same time, the European puts on his best smile in the morning and seems to be able to keep a happy face, even if the sky will fall comet. Since childhood, he memorized phrases from the category of “thank you / good / sorry”. We do not wear masks of decency, benevolent politeness and courtesy, accepted in "civilized countries". But does this mean that we are not responsive and benevolent?
Thanks to the same principles of sobornost and former socialism (which, in essence, has been characteristic of the Russian people from time immemorial), we have exceptional attention to our neighbor. It does not manifest itself outwardly, because the Russian person also has one more feature: we are looking for a catch in everything. We are so honest people that we immediately begin to suspect something is wrong if a person nearby behaves “not in truth”. Too much helping is clearly waiting for something in return; constantly smiling, sucking up or wanting to set up; the hypocrite agrees in everything! So it turns out with goodness, we show it only when we really want to, and help either out of great desire, or because of extreme inevitability. Otherwise, in our subconscious, an act of automatic goodness is associated with an inanimate pattern. But if someone suddenly becomes ill on the street, he will not be left alone, there will certainly be those who will help.
When I was studying at primary school, then constantly lost change for travel. My conscience (read “cowardice”) did not allow me to ride on buses as a hare, and I openly asked the drivers to give me a lift either completely free of charge or for the penny that I had left. And, you know, I never had to go on foot: in half the cases my request was agreed, or some passenger was found who was ready to pay for me.
But at the age of 17, I got stuck one late evening in the city center. Public transport no longer walks, 30 rubles in his pocket, the phone, according to the law of the genre, is discharged. It’s scary to walk far and scary, there are no acquaintances nearby, there’s nothing and nothing to ride on, it’s scary to catch rides, what to do, then? Disagreeing with the prospect of spending the night on the street, I began to approach people with an innocent question: “Can you borrow the phone to ring?” Three times out of three I was rejected. And then I realized: well, of course, they think that I want to rob them! You can’t approach our people with such a question, because we even steal sincerely, honestly looking into our eyes. Then I chose a middle-aged woman and honestly explained the situation to her, adding pleading drama. It worked the first time she helped me call a taxi. She also waited for the car with me to make sure everything was in order.
Why am I doing this? Yes, we will never leave a person in trouble. But we strive to live by the truth, and therefore we must be sure that help is really needed. Such is the mentality of the Russian people. We will not just distribute change to everyone who asks right and left, but if we are convinced that the charity ruble will go to its intended purpose, then please at least two. We can be very polite, courteous and cultured. If the mood is good. And it’s not so easy to exchange for the rules of decency for us, a Russian person is too lively and real for this.
Remember the words American psychologist? Our sincerity really borders on the absurd at times. But although we are always dissatisfied with everything and everyone, we know how to live: swear, break dishes, arrange squabbles in lines and buses, celebrate birthdays a month earlier and celebrate the wedding with the whole yard. We know how to laugh and rejoice, help and do good. A Russian person is short-sighted: he does not like to plan anything, save money, take care of his health, “invest in the future”, we live in the moment here and now. And while we are so unlike the rest of the world with its culture of behavior, while we behave abroad “like barbarians” and stubbornly defend the rights of a carpet on the wall and a full-wall cabinet, our national spirit, that same unique Russian soul, is preserved and is multiplied. Is it worth measuring it with smiles and courtesy?
Features of the Russian soul and Russian mentality was last modified: June 11th, 2017 by Yasna
October 23, 2013Western social studies show that the mentality of the Russians is similar to the North Europeans. However, during the years of Putin's rule, most of them fell back into "traditionalism". There are still significant differences in the culture of Russians and Europeans ...
What is the Russian mentality is shown in the book “The Impact of Western Socio-Cultural Models on Social Practices in Russia” (Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2009, Circulation 500 copies). Its definition is described by several experiments.
For several centuries now, the main enemy of the Russian people has been considered the state in the form of a serving-punitive class. “The source of good in the Russian mentality is the community, today it is relatives and friends (Gemeinshaft), and evil is projected onto the state in the form of bureaucracy (previously - a gentleman, a policeman, etc.); the way of action is “everything will work out”, and we think the triumph of good is undeniable, but ... in the future (“not we, so our children ...”),” sociologists write.
The Russian mentality is characterized by extremes and contradictions. Russians are characterized by extreme coldness and warmth, laziness and bursts of energy. The geographical location combines the features of Europe and Asia in Russians: despotism - anarchism; cruelty - compassion; collectivism - individualism; religiosity - godlessness; blind obedience is rebellion.
A distinctive feature of the Russians has always been the predominance of intuition over logic (“maybe”).
Orthodoxy - Russians have always had one faith, pluralism of opinions is unusual for them. In Germany, there is such an opinion about Russians: they say, your problems are in your orthodoxy Orthodox Church. For us, it’s as if the earthly things are unimportant, we don’t have a home, give us the Universe. Take Russian philosophy. There is only about the life of the Spirit. The flesh is completely humiliated, everything material is humiliated. Human life immediately depreciates. And a Russian person says: "If I live there, then everything here is quite inexpensive for me."
The refusal to actively transform the surrounding world, patience for the sake of reward in the afterlife, accepted in Orthodox ethics, is fundamentally different from the norms of Western Protestant ethics.
The question is natural: what are the pros and cons of the Russian mentality in the implementation of "pro-Western" reforms? Sociologists answer this question: “A German does not rely on “maybe it will cost”, an Englishman or an American seeks justice in the courts that protect human rights, which are fixed in the Constitution on the basis of a “sacred” contract between citizens and their elected authorities. As for the victory of good over evil, Western culture it depends on the activities of the parties, their ideas about what is good and what is evil, and, most importantly, on the personal efforts of each citizen.
The core of the German mentality is the concept of professional duty. The main norm of Protestantism is rational management, focused on increasing productivity and multiplying capital. America's ideal: "a creditworthy good man whose duty it is to regard the increase of his capital as an end in itself."
The Protestant norm “earning money is my duty, this is my virtue and the source of my pride and respect from my fellow citizens” differs from the norm “I will earn money, and it doesn’t matter what others think about it.” This is a calling “from God”, and the most diligent fulfillment of this role is a sacred duty.
In Germany, as well as in others behind European countries rational organization of one's own business is the salvation of one's own soul. Therefore, in Germany it is customary to count money, save and increase it. A German, English or American capitalist is pleasing to God not because he is rich and can rest, taste worldly fruits. He is pleasing because he cannot afford it, tk. performs the sacred duty of increasing capital, denying himself everything.
characteristic feature Protestant morality, which M. Weber called worldly asceticism, is the impossibility of rest, the high intensity of the fulfillment of labor duty due to the rejection of earthly joys.
Well, then sociologists move from theory to practice. Statistical data are available using psychological tests in cross-cultural studies. K. Kasyanova applied the MMPI test to Russian students and a control group of pilots, comparing their data with the results obtained by other psychologists from many countries. She found that the Russians go off scale in "cycloid". This concept from the language of psychoanalysts means that Russians are not inclined to systematically performed activities that do not depend on mood, unlike, for example, punctual Germans.
The most interesting results of intercultural studies were obtained by E. Danilova, E. Dubitskaya and M. Tararukhina. They used psychological test Dutch sociopsychologist Gerd Hofstede, developed by him in the 60s and actively used to this day. The test is designed to measure the parameters of organizational culture. Hofstede revealed the ethno-national features of labor relations and refuted the belief in their universal rationality. It turned out that the Germans and, for example, the Japanese act rationally in the same way, but they evaluate the balance of the resources expended and the results achieved differently.
According to the Hofstede test, 70 peoples were studied. IN last years mass testing of Russians was carried out: 1,700 respondents from among employees of energy companies in 23 regions of Russia and 518 employees of large machine-building enterprises in Moscow, the Volga region, Vladimir region. Power engineers are distinguished by the fact that managers and specialists are sufficiently represented in their composition. new formation, and the second (machine builders) are 90% ordinary Russian workers.
The authors have come to the following conclusions. According to the index "personal achievement - solidarity" Swedes, Dutch, Danes, Norwegians and Finns form one cluster. Dubitskaya and Tararukhina called it the "Northern European Solidarity Syndrome". The British, Americans, Irish, as well as Germans, Austrians, Italians and Swiss formed another statistical cluster, which was called the "Romano-Germanic achievement syndrome".
Russia, on the other hand, fell into the group of North Europeans (by the way, based on these results, it is clear what could take root in Russia as a political and economic formation - liberalism of the Anglo-Saxon type, South European paternalism or Scandinavian socialism).
The researchers defined another scale in the vocabulary of management as “loyalty to the company in exchange for guarantees”, and in a broad sense, this is the mentality of dependence on external environment or, on the contrary, tuned to the social subject's own resource. In the logic of management, the first is the mentality of the employee, and the second is the partner. According to this index, Russians are among those who value the guarantees from the organization more.
In general, they conclude that the Russian cultural matrix (recall, the matrix of labor relations) is far from the Romano-Germanic one, and again closer to the mentality employees in the countries of Northern Europe. The organizational culture of Russia is built on two pillars: solidarity between employees and subordination of the organization. In Hofstede's scales, this refers to the culture of "femininity" on test items: caring for each other, intuition, the value of free time. The opposite pole of "masculinity" is assertiveness, rationalism, perseverance in achieving goals, money.
“The subordination of the organization in the culture of labor relations is associated with a well-known feature of the Russian mentality - etatism, the attitude towards the state in the role of its subjects, not free citizens. In practice, this means loyalty existing orders in exchange for guarantees from the state,” sociologists conclude.
The system of values in Russia, in comparison with the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, is quite close to the Western European one, "but more conservative, traditional, more prone to order, hierarchy, and less - to the rights and freedoms of the individual." In general, Western and Russian sociologists have not made any discoveries here. Another thing is more interesting: has there been a transformation of values in Russia in the last 20 years? There are also studies on this topic.
In the 1990s, there was a marked shift towards the values of the "modern personality" (intellectual autonomy, the value of mastery), especially among young people. However, in the period 2000-2005. there was an increase in hedonism instead of development values creativity. In the most important areas, there has been a rollback ... the cultural preconditions for modernization have deteriorated. According to monitoring surveys carried out in 1998, 2004 and 2007. employees of the Institute of Sociology, in the period from 2004 to 2007. the share of the so-called modernists decreased from 26% to 20%, and the share of traditionalists increased from 41% to 47%, while maintaining the share of "intermediate" (33%).
The authors considered the acceptance of the values of individual freedom as signs of modernity, which is “completely unacceptable” for traditionalists and intermediates in this matter (80% of the sample!). “For them,” writes M.K. Gorshkov, “the optimal model of development, traditional for Russia, is based on the omnipotence of the state, which, in the ideal of this model, serves as the spokesman for the interests of society as a whole and ensures the security of both each individual citizen and the community. Moreover, such a model is perceived more as a chaotic community, where everyone performs their own function, than as a community of free individuals who consciously build a variety of life strategies, guided by human rights, recognized as basic by both the state and society.
So, the above evidence suggests that the value system of Russians is “quite close” to the North European one, but is more inclined towards order, hierarchy, and less towards the rights and freedoms of the individual. In addition, in recent years, the proportion of traditionalists has increased.
However, the "cultural component" of the Russian mentality is still far from the European one.
Cultural parameters of attitudes towards exclusion in modern Russia considered in the works of S.S. Yaroshenko (attitude towards the poor) and I.N. Tartakovskaya (gender stereotypes and lifestyles). The study by T.A. Dobrovolskaya and N.B. Shabalina noted the intolerance of Russian respondents in relation to the very idea of coexistence with atypical people. Respondents expressed a negative attitude to the fact that a disabled person was their relative (39%), flatmate (37%), boss (29%), representative of authorities (27%), subordinate (22%), teacher of the child (20% ).
Other studies show that patience as a component of mercy and humanism is less and less valued in post-Soviet Russia. Thus, the studies of N.I. Lapin demonstrate changes in the structure basic values Russians for the period from 1990 to 2006: if in 1990 traditional value self-sacrifice was in 8th place among the fourteen basic ones, then in 1994 it dropped to 11th place, and by 2006 it had fallen even lower in this list, more and more yielding to such modernist values as independence and initiative.
The situation is different in European countries. A survey was conducted of 135 Russian and 98 foreign (USA, Canada, Austria, Germany) respondents - students, teachers and university staff.
An intercultural study by S.A. Zavrazhin showed that only half of Russian respondents spoke in favor of providing assistance to mentally handicapped people (44% believe that such people should be isolated, 2% should be liquidated, 2% should be ignored), while among foreign respondents no one supported the idea of eliminating, isolating or ignoring people with disabilities, and 98% were in favor of helping them. Let's pay attention - this is a survey among the intelligentsia, and what can we say about common people…
What conclusions can be drawn from this study? On the whole, under a “favorable environment” (democratic rule, respect for individual rights, integration into the Western world), Russians are potentially ready to become “Northern Europeans” (at the level of the same Finns, who a hundred years ago were the same Russians, and who made the transformation into Europeans). in a very short period of time by the standards of world history).
But for now, it's all pie in the sky. And the "tit in the hands", the realities of today's life are shattered by the tactics of survival in an environment hostile to the average Russian - where only the highest power with its exclusive right to the "only European" acts as the only savior.
based on materials ttolk.ru
Russia has always been a country located between East and West. The Russian man has repeatedly wondered whether he is a man of the West or, after all, of a more spontaneous East. Philosophers have dealt with this issue in their own way. Many of them even began to talk about the unique position of the country, which has its own unique path. The mentality of Russians is difficult to compare with the mentalities neighboring countries both western and eastern. Of course, one can find in it something in common from each of the powers, however, there is something in the Russian soul that defies simple classification.
The mentality has evolved over the centuries. It was influenced by both countries and new religion(Orthodox Christianity). Moreover, a Russian person is predominantly Orthodox, because he reflects the dogmas of his faith. Features of the Russian mentality can be found not only in the way of thinking, but also in the very way of life. The Western world is extremely simple, there is a threefold division of the universe: the divine world, the demonic world and the human world. Therefore, people living in the West strive to do something in this world. The Russian person has a binary universe: either divine or demonic. This world is considered a kingdom of darkness, given to the prince of darkness. Every day people see injustice and imperfection.
The Russian mentality has always strived for maximalism. And this desire results either in the creation of an ideal world here and now (revolution), or in complete self-elimination and asceticism. Russian people are predominantly apolitical. he acutely feels dissatisfaction with the authorities. Justice in Russian means equality and brotherhood. And since ideals are not feasible, then the world is in power evil forces. Instead of doing something (as is customary in all capitalist countries), the Russian would rather fall into asceticism.
The Russian mentality, shaped by the Orthodox religion, is not prepared to follow the path of a market economy. Only a few were able to accept the fact that self-elimination will not lead to anything good. Russia is an abundant country. And, at the same time, the Russians continue to live worse than the European paradox, over which specialists puzzle over from year to year. The neighborhood of the Turkic people had a great influence on the mentality of the Russians. They themselves were a peace-loving people, hospitable and meek. The mixing of the Slavs with the Turks gave rise to a tendency to melancholy, depression, cruelty and spree. This is how the contradictory temperament of Russians was born, in which extremes coexist. The most eastern feature in the mentality of the Russian people is manifested in its collectivism and attitude towards power.
Power for the Russian is sacred, it is given from above. Authorities must be obeyed. However, as soon as rebellion is born in the soul, the Russian person is ready to destroy everything. Since ancient times, history has brought cases of riots and uprisings to our days. As soon as a Russian person sees the Prince of Darkness in the image of the Tsar, a holy revolution begins. However, strong sovereigns could always pacify their subjects. The collectivism of Russians is manifested not so much in Peaceful time, how much during the period of wars and disasters. Here you can find not only amazing mutual assistance among people, but also resilience. There are cases when the inhabitants of Russian cities kept the defense to the last without any control from military officials. This is a striking fact that shows not only the high foundations of collectivism, but also patriotism and citizenship. By the way, Russian nationalism is not inherent in the form in which it manifested itself in a number of Western countries. The citizenship of this people has a completely different basis.
Nadezhda SuvorovaUnhealthy Lifestyle
It is sad, but the inhabitants of the country. Favorite phrase of Russians: "It will pass by itself!". It is not customary for us to trust doctors, but it is customary to use traditional medicine recipes. Some even treat cancer with herbs and magical devices.
This happens because for such a long period of existence of the country, we have not focused on health. We are not educated in this area and misunderstand the meaning of the saying: "What does not kill us makes us stronger." Love for an idle lifestyle leads Russian people to.
Fortunately, today the younger generation is beginning to take an interest in their health, is fond of sports, goes to the gym to gain beautiful figure. But this is just the beginning big way after realizing that Russia was going downhill.
Life "on the hook"
Another established distinguishing feature of the Russian people is bribery. 200 years ago in Russia it was customary to pay officials for services, but even when this right was abolished, the habit remained.
Officials are so accustomed to comfortable conditions that they never wanted to lose financial injections from the people. Therefore, issues are still being resolved not according to the law, but “by pull”.
Eradicate this trait on this historical stage Russia is impossible, because there are other global problems, but the struggle has already begun and is bringing success.
Endurance
Historical events such as uprisings, wars, blockades and constant change of rulers have led to the trouble of the Russian people. This made it possible to cultivate endurance, patience and the ability to withstand adversity in people.
Russian people are only recently getting used to comfort. Previously, we spent a lot of time in the fields to feed our families, often the years were lean, so we had to work without sleep and rest.
Weather conditions also influenced the formation of the Russian mentality. Foreigners are terribly afraid of the cold. For them, 0 degrees is already a reason to wear a sheepskin coat. The Russian people are accustomed to such temperatures and tolerate them well. One has only to remember the tradition of dipping into the hole at Christmas. Some Russians even practice winter swimming all winter.
Today Russia is coming out of the crisis, the people are facing new tasks. Therefore, the mentality is gradually changing, acquiring new features. But some of them will forever remain in Russian souls and will help to remain invincible and fearless in the face of dangerous enemies.
February 26, 2014The time has come to define the main, in my opinion, features of the Russian mentality.
Among the primary properties of the Russian people is its kindness. Kindness in all its layers is expressed in the absence of vindictiveness. Often a Russian person, being passionate and prone to maximalism, experiences a strong feeling of repulsion from another person, however, when meeting with him, if specific communication is necessary, his heart softens, and he somehow involuntarily begins to show his spiritual softness towards him, even sometimes condemning himself for it, if he believes that this person does not deserve to be treated kindly.
“Life according to one’s heart” creates the openness of the soul of a Russian person and the ease of communication with people, the simplicity of communication, without conventions, without outward instilled politeness, but with those virtues of politeness that flow from a sensitive natural delicacy ...
However, positive qualities often there are negative sides. The kindness of a Russian person induces him sometimes to lie due to unwillingness to offend the interlocutor, due to the desire for peace and good relations with people no matter what.
Russian people are striking in the versatility of their abilities. He is characterized by high religious talent, the ability to the highest forms of experience, observation, theoretical and practical mind, creative perceptiveness, ingenuity, a subtle perception of beauty and the aristocracy associated with it, expressed as Everyday life and in the creation of great works of art.
Among the especially valuable properties of the Russian people is a sensitive perception of strangers. mental states. This results in live communication even unfamiliar people together. “... The Russian people have highly developed individual personal and family communication. There is no excessive replacement in Russia individual relationships social, there is no personal and family isolationism. Therefore, even a foreigner, once in Russia, feels: “I am not alone here” (of course, I am talking about normal Russia, and not about life under the Bolshevik regime). Perhaps these properties are main source recognition of the charm of the Russian people, so often expressed by foreigners who know Russia well ... ".
Passion and powerful willpower can be considered as belonging to the number of basic properties of the Russian people. The strength of the will of the Russian people is revealed in the fact that a Russian person, noticing any shortcoming of his own and morally condemning it, obeying a sense of duty, overcomes it and develops a quality that is completely opposite to it. Passion is a combination of a strong feeling and an effort of will directed towards a loved or hated value. Naturally, the higher the value, the more strong feelings and energetic activity it causes in people with a strong will. Hence the passion of the Russian people, manifested in political life and even greater passion in religious life. Maximalism, extremism and fanatical intolerance are the products of this passion.
Freedom. Among the primary properties of the Russian people, along with religiosity, the search for absolute goodness and willpower, one can also include love for freedom, and its highest expression - freedom of the spirit. He who possesses the freedom of the spirit is inclined to put every value to the test, not only by thought, but even by experience. Due to the free search for truth, it is difficult for Russian people to come to terms with each other. Therefore, in public life Russian freedom-loving is expressed in a tendency to anarchy, in repulsion from the state.
Cruelty. Kindness is the predominant feature of the Russian people. But at the same time, it cannot be denied that there are also many manifestations of cruelty in Russian life. There are many types of cruelty, and some of them can occur, paradoxically, even in the behavior of people who are not at all evil in nature. Cruelty can be explained by the prevalence of poverty in Russia, many grievances and oppressions. Until the last quarter of the 19th century, the family life merchants, philistines and peasants was patriarchal. The despotism of the head of the family was often expressed in acts close to cruelty.
Laziness, "Oblomovism". Russian man is characterized by a desire for an absolutely perfect kingdom of being and, at the same time, an excessive sensitivity to all the shortcomings of his own and other people's activities. From this arises a cooling towards the work begun and aversion to its continuation; the idea and general outline of it is often very valuable, but its incompleteness and therefore the inevitable imperfections repel a Russian person, and he is too lazy to continue finishing trifles. Thus, "Oblomovism" is in many cases the reverse side of the high qualities of a Russian person - the desire for complete perfection and sensitivity to the shortcomings of our reality.
