Each nation is unique and inimitable. And isn't this one of the reasons why we love to travel so much? We like to get new experience ourselves, to see everything with our own eyes, and not just read on the Internet or a magazine. And each country has its own mentality and national character. Quite often we hear these two phrases, but few people know how they differ in essence. Let's figure it out together.
General concept of mentality
In a general sense, mentality is a combination of various features (mental, emotional, cultural, as well as value orientations and attitudes) that characterize a certain group, nation, people or nationality. This term appears in history, but at the moment other sciences also use it, for example, such as psychology and sociology.
The totality of views, assessments, values, norms of behavior and morality, mentality, religious affiliation, etc. - all this is the characteristics of a particular group of people. Mentality is a collective trait, not an individual one.
Concept
National mentality is a certain, inherent in a particular ethnicgroup of people lifestyle and culture, as well as the national value system, views and worldview of the nation, common character traits.
Stability, immutability, constancy, conservatism - these are the characteristic features of the mentality of the nation. It is difficult to influence it with the help of ideological, administrative, legal or managerial measures.
Levels
National mentality is a two-level phenomenon. The first level is genetic. For example, in the course of numerous studies, it was found that the genetic feature of a Russian person is a priority in the thinking of the right hemisphere. Such thinking is characterized by creativity, sensuality. No wonder the Russian language is considered one of the richest and most beautiful languages.
The second level of national mentality is the mentality acquired (or individual). The process of learning, upbringing, self-realization of the individual, the choice of one's own role, the assimilation of culture, self-identification, etc. - this is all the formation of the second level. It is important to take into account the individual psychological characteristics of a person. He can accept the national characteristics of his ethnic group, or, on the contrary, develop a critical attitude towards them.
Mentality and national character - identical concepts?
Quite often these two phenomena are equated to each other. But this is wrong, since there are certain differences between them. First of all, the mentality is associated with mental abilities, forces andpotential and outlook. There is no place for emotions.
The national character, in turn, includes a certain color of feelings and emotions, the way of life of a particular ethnic group, features of the perception of the world, motives for actions and moral norms. The difference between national mentality and national character may not seem obvious at first, but it exists.
Let's see in practice
There is no such person who does not have a stereotyped opinion about any nation. The Germans are cheerful and kind, the British are modest and stiff, the Americans are open and patriotic.
Russian national mentality also has its own specific features:
- Thanks to the period of the USSR for the public and the collectivity of the Russian people. The general often prevails over the personal. Everyone has come across the fact that the grandmother near the entrance considers it important to tell how you are dressed and what she thinks of you, although no one asked her about it. But, on the other hand, caring for others is expressed in pleasant little things, for example, you will always be warned that there is a traffic police patrol further down the road.
- Feelings prevail over reason. Russian people often help a friend without thinking about their own benefit, but simply act from the heart. Greed and selfishness in a general sense are not inherent in the Russian nation.
- Personal negativism. A large number of Russian people notice more shortcomings in themselves than virtues. Our people do not always react calmly if someoneaccidentally steps on his feet (we are talking about cases where the perpetrator apologized). On the street, people rarely smile at each other and just don't talk like that.
- Smiling is not considered polite. If a Westerner smiles at you, it does not always mean that he likes you. You can be as nasty as possible to him, but he will smile, as it is polite. Russian people smile sincerely and only to those who are truly pleasant to them. A polite smile, on the contrary, causes rejection.
- Disputes are our everything. Russian people are very fond of arguing on a variety of issues, from cars and canned food to politics and philosophy. At the same time, this form of communication finds its place not because "truth is born in a dispute", but as a result of lively and very emotional communication.
- Russian people believe too much in goodness. Also common among people is the idea that the state is the main thing. It can give, or it can take. And from this follows the following national characteristics.
- The principle of "live and keep a low profile". Democracy is a young phenomenon for Russia, so many people are not yet used to the fact that they can really change something in the state in which they live.
- Tolerance for theft and deceit. Often, due to the kindness of a Russian person, minor local violations are forgiven, but it is precisely because of such forgiveness that large offenses appear that are already scandalous throughout the country.
- Freebie and love for her. There is no need to say much here. Our Russian people love what they get simply andfree.
- A double attitude to he alth. A Russian person often does not take care of himself, does not go to the hospital until he is absolutely impatient, but he can help the disabled and care for the sick. It's easy to go to work unhe althy. Pity also occupies a large place in the Russian mentality - we feel sorry for dogs, cats, children, old people. But at the same time, we do not feel sorry for middle-aged people who can also find themselves in difficult life situations.
How are things abroad?
National mentality is insanely interesting. Learning about other nations and their special features, one involuntarily wonders how it is possible to live like this, because some moments can be completely contrary to your own convictions.
The British, for example, have their own national mentality. Examples: They are very heavy on their feet and have a great respect for privacy. It is even elevated into a kind of cult. The British know how to control themselves, coldly polite and proud. Joy happens or grief, equanimity will be reflected on the face. The British do not like ostentation, they prefer comfort and order. However, they are very friendly and always ready to help. Another British trait is the ability to allocate one's own resource to work, family, friends and oneself. What is the national mentality of the British in addition to the above? Vanity is something that cannot be taken away from them. This is how it has historically developed, and nothing can be done about it. They think the UK is the best.
On formationnational mentality is influenced by several groups of factors. Let's consider each of them in more detail.
Natural geographic factors of influence
The dependence of national characteristics on natural and geographical conditions is called geographical determinism. The natural environment affects the mentality of the people through its influence on the way of life (steppe or forests, cold or hot climate), as well as through images of native nature, imprinted in the mentality (for example, the love of freedom of the Mongolian peoples has developed under the influence of the lack of physical boundaries of their territory).
Also, three factors such as geographical location, vastness of territory, and climate are separately identified and explained using the example of a Russian person. The first factor of the Russian is the breadth of the soul, the second is hospitality and some melancholy, the third (namely, long winters) is contemplation and daydreaming.
Religious Influencers
National mentality is largely the influence of religion. In sociology, Islam, Western and Eastern Christianity and Judaism are considered to have influenced the formation of four major mentalities. For example, for Jews in our time, the Jewish mentality is important with special, dogmatically determined and fixed for thousands of years of national tradition, the attitudes of faith, thinking and will. Social and political ideas, values, identity, system of relations and a characteristic type of behavior largely determine the worldview of the Jewish nation. There is an opinion that religion was adapted tomentality. And he did not develop on its basis. Since in our society, due to its great diversity, there is no clear answer to this question, it will remain the subject of a long future debate.
Socio-historical factors of influence
Socio-historical factors in the formation of mentality are numerous and varied. Therefore, consider the most frequently mentioned among them. For example, a mixture of different peoples, as a result of which hybrid mentalities appear. To be frank, all currently existing mentalities in society are hybrid, so it is simply impossible to find a genetically pure people. For example, researchers talk about the influence of the Tatar-Mongols on the formation of some Russian traits. For example, after the Tatar invasion, the Russian people developed a tendency to robbery and rebellion, disrespect for private property. But, on the other hand, such positive qualities as fortitude, the ability to endure the difficult hardships of life, have developed. In general, there are three main mechanisms for the influence of interaction between peoples on their mentalities:
- pooling gene pools;
- borrowing cultural practices;
- formation of national character traits necessary to counter foreign invasions and adapt to their results.
Language as a manifestation of the nation
Language and national mentality are not in vain connected with each other. The content of the surrounding world is expressed through the quantitative meaning of words in the language, and the thinking of the people is expressed through the grammatical structure. Emotionality of speech, predominancenouns or verbs, the frequent use of expression enhancers - all this developed historically. Different languages have a different composition of grammatical categories, which has undergone a long historical selection. The grammatical system of the language is static and little subject to changes in its structure. It was created over centuries and millennia, and simply cannot but reflect the national mentality.
Conclusion
National mentality is inherent in every ethnic group. Distinctive features, characters of people, traditions and customs, language - all this creates the uniqueness and self-expression of each people. In the course of the worldwide processes of globalization and integration, cultural exchange is increasingly taking place. And it is very important not to lose ethnic value and self-identification in its course. Because the main we alth of our world is its numerous peoples. And the we alth of the people is the experience of their ancestors, accumulated traditions, customs and history.
