Concepts Of "Respect" And "Respect For Parents" In Russian Adolescents And Adults

Abstract

The article is devoted to the semantic analysis of the concepts of "respect" and "respect for parents" as well as the comparison of the semantic profiles of these concepts in older adolescents and adults. The beginning of the article contains a theoretical review of the concepts of respect, shows the lack of development of this concept in psychology and the relevance of the study of respect for parents. The following are the results of an empirical study of the semantics behind "respect" and "respect for parents". Results obtained from Russian adolescents aged 14 to 18 (n = 164) are compared to those from Russian adults aged 22 to 70 (n = 220). The study is conducted using the techniques of semantic differential and a semantic scale of the concept of "respect" comprising 26 statements about the possible definitions and meaning of the concept. Semantic universals of the "respect" and "respect for parents" concepts are highlighted. The differences in the perception of these concepts between adolescents and adults are described. The discussion of the results leads to conclusions about a more positive and cooperative attitude of the respondents towards the concept of "respect for parents" in comparison with the concept of "respect", and about the difference between the views of adolescents and adults on these concepts. The results of the factor analysis enable us to conclude that respect for parents is interpreted either as a feeling of respect towards one's parents or the prescribed respectful mode of behaviour.