Scholarly record

METAPHORS OF "FRIENDS" AND OF "ALIENS" WITH DIFFERENT ETHNOCULTURAL EXTERNAL APPEARANCE OF PERSONS WITH DIFFERENT STRATIFICATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

V. D. Alperovich

Abstract

Theoretical framework. The research is based on the psychological conception of metaphors as a way of social cognition. It touches on the problem of distinctions of representations about "friend" and "alien" persons with different ethnocultural appearance reflected in metaphors and narratives. The objective of this research was comparative analysis of metaphors of "friends" and "aliens" with different ethnocultural appearance of persons with different stratificational characteristics (gender, age, level of education). Methods. Classification of metaphors, methods of mathematical statistics (cluster analysis, quartiles, nonparametric tests) were used. The technique of metaphors of "friends" and of "aliens" with different ethnocultural external appearance was elaborated. Results. It has been discovered that towards early and middle adult age the trend to attribute positive psychosocial features to "alien" persons with "Slavic" ethnocultural appearance and to "friends" and "alien" persons with "Caucasian" ethnocultural appearance intensifies. Respondents with the incomplete higher education attribute negative psychosocial features to "friends" and "alien" persons with "Caucasian" and "Asian" ethnocultural appearance, evaluate negatively their roles in communication more than respondents with the complete higher education. Male respondents emphasize differences from "alien" persons, particularly from members of other ethnocultural groups, more than female respondents. Four interpretative repertoires of perception of "friends" and "aliens" with different ethnocultural appearance are described by the author. Conclusion. Empirical model of interconnections between metaphors of "friends" and "aliens" with different ethnocultural appearance and personal stratificational characteristics has been demonstrated. Theoretical implications. The results can be of use in studies on conflicts and discrimination.

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