The Relationship Between Symbols/Signs and Values-Meanings in Group Subjects of Life Activity as an Element of Social Mentality

Aim. To determine the relationships between symbols/signs and values-meanings in group subjects of life activity, on the basis of which to approach the development of a non-verbal express-methodology for professional-psychological selection.

Procedure and methods. Data were collected using the method of directed associations on a total sample of 76 people. Associative experiments were conducted in four real groups: Master's degree students in “Psychology and psycholinguistics of speech communication (psychology)” of Moscow State Pedagogical Univ. – 42 people (21 people aged 18–35, 21 people over 36 years old); “Psychology of service activity” of the Moscow University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia named after V. Ya. Kikot – 22 people, cadets and 14 people – students of the foreign faculty. The age of the Master's students and students is 18–35 years. Gender role composition of the groups is 2/3 girls, 1/3 boys. All respondents were studying on a budgetary basis. The study was conducted in the classroom. Procedure: give 3 associations (three signs) out of 380 to 22 stimulus-values.

Results. The presence of a stable relationship between signs/symbols and values in different age groups was revealed: labor, absolute freedom, wealth, traditional family. The use of the Pareto law showed that the distribution of the symbol/sign and value relationships was adequately reflected in the social mentality of the experimental samples. The choice of Russian cadets and masters: labor, mutual assistance, enterprise, own path, traditional family, life. The choice of foreign students: labor, wealth, traditional family, life, absolute freedom. The common thing in the structure of the relationships between symbols/signs and values are 3 expressed semantic nodes: labor, traditional family, life. The remaining relationships have differences. The reasons are small samples, ethnic characteristics, poor knowledge of the language of communication among foreign students.

Theoretical and/or practical significance. The relationships between meanings/signs and values of Russian and foreign masters, students, cadets, and listeners studying at Russian universities have been empirically substantiated. Approaches to developing a diagnostic tool have been made. The results obtained can be used by specialists to develop psychocorrectional and psychoprophylactic programs aimed at predicting the professional path of future young specialists in helping professions.

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