ISSN 0798 1015

Vol. 38 (Nº 40) Año 2017. Pág. 17

Students of agrarian university: Social profile in mirror of deviations

Estudiantes de universidad agraria: Perfil social en espejo de desviaciones

Liubov Ilinichna IAKOBIUK 1; Marina Vladimirovna VINOGRADOVA 2; Nadegda Nikolaevna MALCHUKOVA 3; Yana Vladimirovna KRYUCHEVA 4

Received: 25/07/2017 • Approved: 02/08/2017

Content

1. Introduction

2. Literature review

3. Materials and methods

4. Results

5. Discussion

6. Conclusion

References

1. Introduction

Under conditions of the changing Russian society, social problems of the student body become urgent questions. The student body is a major part of the youth that are subjected to the changes of base parameters of social life. In this connection, the problems of spiritual and moral education of youth acquire particular importance.

In the message of the President to the Federal Assembly for 2016, V.V. Putin pointed out the necessity to strengthen the spiritual and moral basis of society. A rise of the level of health and life longevity, establishment of energy-saving environment, meeting the needs in the qualitative education are strategic objectives of the government of Tyumen region in enhancement of life quality of the population in the region. Thus, the main objective of the social policy of Tyumen region, concerning “formation of competitive human capital of the region by improving life quality and health of population”, was determined by the Concept of long-term socio-economic development of Tyumen region up to 2020 and for longer term until 2030.

Formation of the healthy lifestyle, including popularization of the culture of healthy food, health improvement programmes, alcohol and drug-taking prevention, smoking prevention, and attracting the population to regular physical and sports training are priority tasks according to the Concept (SP TR Antidrug programme of Tyumen region until 2020). This concept is actual in view of the fact that according to the opinions of a number of scientists: L.V. Bondarenko, I.Ia. Glinski, Iu.A. Zubok, I.S. Kon et al, the behaviour of youth deviating from the norm, so called deviant behaviour, in a number of cases was provoked by the society itself, in which “old” norms were collapsing swiftly, and “new” ones were developed with huge difficulty (Grigorashchenko-Alieva, 2011). On the basis of the studies in 2014 undertaken basing on FSBEI of HE of the State Northern Trans-Ural Agrarian University, 11.35% of students studying at the agrarian university are inclined to different types of deviations and 35,46% are susceptible to the condition, which can lead in the future to deviant behaviour. In this connection, the question on studying the social profile of the students of this university arose, comparing students by sex within the framework of the proposed concept.

The objective of the present paper is detailed study of the social profile of the students of the agrarian university compared by sex, revealing the structure of deviations and attitudes towards deviant behaviour.

2. Literature review

The problem of deviant behaviour was considered in the works of N.G. Alekseev, B.G. Ananev, Iu.K. Babanski, A.S. Belkin, L.S. Vygotski, V.A. Zhuravleva, T.M. Mikhailova, S.S. Frolova, S.A. Kozlova, A.N. Leontev, A.S. Makarenko, S.T. Shatski et al.

The complexity of defining the concept under study is conditioned by its interdisciplinary nature. At present, the term is used in two senses: 1) a deed, an act of a person inconsistent with officially established or actually existing norms in this society; 2) a social phenomenon expressed in relatively mass and stable forms of human activity inconsistent with officially established or actually existing norms and expectations in this society (Paatova, 2015).

In the abridged dictionary of modern concepts and terms, deviant behaviour is interpreted as a deviation from the norm of behaviour or development.

In the psychological dictionary, deviant behaviour is determined as a system of acts or separate acts contradicting the legal and moral norms adopted in the society.

According to A. Cohen, “deviant behaviour is such behavior, which contradicts the institutionalized expectations, that is, the expectations shared and validated within the social system”.

V.V. Kovalev determines deviant behaviour as a deviation from the moral norms of this society. At that, manifestations of antisocial behaviour differ by diversity and do not always succumb to systematization.

V.D. Mendelevich emphasizes that deviation is a border between norm and pathology, an extreme variant of the norm; therefore, it is impossible to determine deviant activities without relying on knowledge of norms.

Iu.A. Kleiberg proposes his understanding of this phenomenon interpreting it as a specific way of changing social norms and expectations by means of demonstration of value attitude towards them (Kleiberg, 2016; Kleiberg 2014)

Analysis of psychological and pedagogical literature shows that the study of deviant behaviour is conducted in different directions: anthropocentric theories of P. Kelly, E. Krechmer (1930), C. Lombroso (1864), W. Sheldon (1940); psychoanalytic theories of S. Freud (1901), C. Jung, E. Erikson; anomia theories of E. Durkheim, R. Merton (1966); culturological theories of A. Miller, E. Sutherland; social learning theory of A. Bandura; labelling theory of G. Becker; conflictological theory of O. Tur; a synthesized approach of N. Smelser; a socio-psychological approach of S. Ling, R. Harre (2012); deviantology of V.S. Afanasev, Ia.I. Gilinski (2016), B.M. Levin, M.E. Pozdniakova; modern sociology of the right of V.P. Kazimirchuk, V.N. Kudriavtsev, Iu.V. Kudriavtsev, as well as in the works of V.F. Levicheva, V.T. Lisovski, I.A. Nevski, Iu.Iu. Komlev (2014) et al.

The majority of works and publications are devoted to tendencies of the complex research of the problem of deviant behaviour and legal awareness of youth. In particular, A. Ivlev (2015) studies the role of social institutions of society in formation of legal awareness of youth. I.G. Batku and E. Martynchik (1988) substantiate the necessity of social and legal regulation in the course of overcoming antisocial behaviour of teenagers.

Foreign humanistic theories in modern psychology deal with negative behavioral reactions as a consequence of violation of harmony and concordance of personalities with their own needs, feelings, emotions and impossibility of finding meaningful personality self-realization in the existing relations (C. Rogers, A. Maslow, K. Horney, J. Bowlby, S. Sullivan, E. Erikson et al) (Lukov 2015).

Despite the urgency of the conducted studies, insufficient attention is paid to development of the detailed study of the social profile of the students by sex, revealing the structure of deviations and attitudes towards deviant behaviour.

3. Materials and methods

The study, being the first stage of the experiment, was undertaken based on FSBEI of HE of the State Northern Trans-Ural Agrarian University in 2007. 200 students took part in the study; among them 54% were males and 46% ― females. The age of the respondents varied from 17 to 24 years old. The following methods were used as research techniques: analysis of philosophical, psychological-pedagogical and methodical literature on the research issue, as well as analysis of normative documents, comparison and generalization of the content of concepts and categories; survey, qualitative and quantitative analysis of the obtained data; methods of statistical data processing.

For conducting the survey, the simple selection of respondents from the first- to fourth-year students was made. When analysing the results of the study, geographical factor was not taken into consideration, as 92% of respondents were the natives of rural territories. More than half of the students studied on the state-funded places, the rest ― on the commercial ones. In addition, at the time of the survey, the majority of the surveyed students were residing at the hostel, one third of them ― with parents. There were a few married students — 4%, as well as those, who have their own accommodation — 4%, and those, having children — 2%.

4. Results

Making up the social profile of students, one cannot but pay attention to life values. For their determination survey was carried out. Among the surveyed respondents, the majority were brought up in two-parent families (young men ― 71%, young women ― 72%) that were friendly, united (young men ― 83%, young women ― 72%). This allowed supposing that the value of family, of family relationships was of significance in the life of responded students. The family was an outlet and the main value for students. Therefore, all public and state organisations must in every way enable the development of the family institute, popularize family values (Goncharenko and Malchukova, 2014). Indeed, responding to the question of life values, in the course of priorities ranging, it was ascertained that the relationships in the family were atop for young women (79%) and took second place ― for young men (73%). Also, such values as health (young men ― 94%, young women ― 76%), friends (56%) and education (53%) for young people were of priority. Such value as material wealth was also of importance (young men ― 45%, young women ― 41%). According to the data of the survey, it was possible to point out the fact that the respondents assigned the value of labour to the last place in the rating of values.

Since health was one of the most significant values for students, the fact what they implied by this concept was of interest. Among the proposed variants of answers, the priorities were distributed by the following way (table 1):

Table 1. Indicators of students’ health

Socio-economic and cultural transformations in Russia have recently led to the entirely new tendencies in youth’s relation to their own health. The health status of students as a significant social group of our society is not only an indicator of the existing socio-economic and social development of the country, but also an important indicator of the future labour, economic, cultural, defense potential of the society. The students themselves assessed their health differently, mostly as good (table 2).

Table 2. Assessment of students’ health

Since stress was the main reason of many diseases, the respondents’ response to the question: “What do you do when a stress situation arises?” was of interest. It turned out that when such situation arose, the majority of students ran inward (males – 62%, females – 66%), some of them sought consolation in families (males – 11%, females – 38%); there were also those, who reflected on suicide (males – 2%). When solving the problems, respondents frequently turned to their parents (males – 68%, females – 79%), less commonly ― to friends (males – 36%, females – 52%), or solved problems independently (males – 36%, females – 10%).

Special attention should be paid to spiritual and moral manifestations. The main part of the respondents considered themselves as religious people (males – 62%, females – 66%), but an insignificant part of respondents went to church (males – 6%, females – 7%). Responding to the question: “Should a young person have a model to emulate?”, about 50% responded positively (males – 61%, females – 42%). At that, a model to emulate, in respondents’ judgment, should have certain features (table 3).

Table 3. Main features of ideal role model

The question of interpretation of the concept “upbringing” by the youth themselves and the way they assess their level of mannerliness was of interest. As a result of the survey it was revealed that upbringing for youth was “behaviour of a person in society, with friends, in families; respect for adults and unfamiliar people; determination of bounds, within which a person could evolve as a personality; teaching to good manners and correct behaviour; the moral basis of a person; discipline; correct, adequate, rational behaviour of a person; love, attention, care; cultivation of moral-spiritual social standards; ability to love; a level of socio-psychological maturity, a level of responsibility, comprehension, respect, morality…” (Iakobiuk 2014).

Analysis of the role model of a modern young person showed that to a little extent he/she should possess such features as civic consciousness, patriotism, the desire to be fair, enthusiasm in something new, fidelity to principles. Thus, in spite of the efforts of the state in the enhancement of patriotism and civic consciousness in youth, the problem of the system of nation-wide values and priorities remains critical. In politics, students also adopted neutral stance; less than half of the respondents were to some degree interested in politics; the rest were not interested at all (males – 44%, females – 32%).

The financial condition of the surveyed students could be characterized as a good one, since only 28% of young men and 14% of young women defined it as below the average. Moreover, 18% of males and 7% of females considered their financial condition as excellent.

Since the surveyed respondents were the students, their progress in studies was of no less importance for making up their social profile. According to the results of the survey, it was revealed that only 6% of young mean demonstrated poor achievements and often retook exams; 55% had different marks, including “satisfactory” marks, and 39% generally got “good” and “excellent” marks. Among the surveyed young women, 41% had different marks, including “satisfactory”, and 59% generally got “good” and “excellent” marks. Since more than half of the students studied on the state-funded places, it was possible to assume that these indicators were achieved owing to the existing stimulus of receiving a scholarship. In addition, in the opinion of most of the students, good trusting relationships between teachers and students were one of the factors of good progress (males – 71%, females – 55%). The rest treated the teacher-student relationships as exceptionally business-like. Assessing interrelations among the groupmates, a significant part of the students regarded the relationships in their group as benevolent on the whole, but one would not call it united (males – 48%, females – 45%). Enumerated facts implied positive attitude of the students towards study; they attended classes with pleasure, in good mood (males – 61%, females – 76%), and only an insignificant part of the students attended classes without particular interest (“to endure whims of parents”).

The fact that the general body of the surveyed led healthy life-style was praiseworthy (males – 79%, females – 76%). At that, responding to the question “Do you take alcoholic drinks?”, one fourth of the surveyed students responded positively, some of them raised the spirits this way (males – 8%) and came out of the stressful situations (males – 20%, females – 3%). In addition, according to the survey data, in the setting of the respondents there were alcoholic dependent people, with whom it was comfortable to communicate (males – 92%, females – 86%).

Antismoking campaign, which is insistently waged in Russia, and, in the first place, in educational institutions, demonstrates positive results. Only 11% of young men considered smoking as a means of stress coping, an instrument of entering a certain social group; the rest of the respondents smoked only in case of need, or did not smoke at all (males – 82%, females – 96%).

Since 2002 in Tyumen region, large-scale prevention measures on early detection of persons that are supposed to take drugs and psychotropic substances, which include voluntary and immune-chromatographic rapid testing of high school students and students of educational institutions, have been implemented (SP TR Development of civil society, social ties and youth policy until 2020). Despite this, among the surveyed students of the State Northern Trans-Ural Agrarian University, there were those, who tried or took narcotic substances (males – 8%, females – 3%). In the setting of the surveyed students there were persons taking narcotic substances (males – 9%, females – 7%).

Weak manifestation of deviant behaviour could be conditioned by the fact that students had an active stand in life, were able to find interests to their liking. Namely, in their free time, the majority of the surveyed students took up sports, music, socialized with friends, read books, visited cultural and public establishments. Combining the study at the institute with sports activities led to the enhancement of life quality, especially in the female group (Kuvaldin, 2013).

5. Discussion

Thus, studying the social profile of the students of the agrarian university compared by sex, it was revealed that there were no significant differences in the structure of deviations and attitudes towards deviant behaviour in young men and women. About 20% of both young men and women, studying at the agrarian university, were prone to different types of deviations. In our view, closure of students in psychological assistance when getting out of stressful situations was one of the reasons of the obtained result; this happened despite the fact that in the region there were different centres of psychological assistance and rehabilitation, as well as hot-line services. But nevertheless, the large percentage of respondents led healthy life style (males – 79%, females – 82%). This is substantiated by the fact that in Tyumen region, leisure activities are developed at a substantially high level.

Unexpectedly for us, as a result of the study, it was revealed that there were differences in the social profile of young men and women by the following indicators, namely:

• the financial position of young men was better than that of young women;
• work was one of the priority values for young men, while young women did not consider it as a value;
• young men put physical activity, power, and endurance into the concept “health”, and they valued their health higher; while young women referred normal development of the organism (in accordance with sex and age) to this concept, and a considerable percentage of females assesed it as satisfactory or weak;
• young men were more confident in their abilities when solving problems, and they less frequently turned to their parents for assistance than young women did;
• a large percentage of young men strived to emulate their role models, while young women desired to remain individual.

6. Conclusion

By means of studying the social profile of the student of the agrarian university compared by sex, it was revealed that there were no significant differences in the structure of deviations and attitudes towards deviant behaviour in young men and women, but there were differences in other indicators. In our view, to prevent deviant behaviour among the students of the agrarian university, it was necessary to cooperate closely with the local governments, with the Regional narcotics dispensary, with the Centre of preventive medicine; to liven up the work of supervisors on holding discussions about spiritual and moral education, including the work, conducted in cooperation with representatives of different confessions, with psychologists, art critics, etc.

Thus, the use of the same methods of upbringing influences differently young women and men. It is possible to consider the problem of development of methodological support in education of youth divided by sex as a subsequent research issue.

References

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1. Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Northern Trans-Ural State Agricultural University”, 625003, Russia, Tyumen, Respubliki St., 7.  E-mail: lyakobuk@yandex.ru

2. Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Northern Trans-Ural State Agricultural University”, 625003, Russia, Tyumen, Respubliki St., 7

3. Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Northern Trans-Ural State Agricultural University”, 625003, Russia, Tyumen, Respubliki St., 7

4. Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education, “Industrial University of Tyumen”, 625000, Russia, Tyumen, Volodarskogo St., 38