Ethnic Representations of Tuvans about Themselves and Others: The Factor of Location

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of the ideas of Tuvans about the individual psychological characteristics of representatives of the Tuvan and Russian ethnic groups. The subjects of the study were Tuvinians living in the largest city of the Republic of Tyva — Kyzyl (n=72) and in a remote, southwestern region of the Republic of Tyva — Mongun-Taiginsky district (n=69). As part of the study, the author's methodology "Cards" was used, which allows for the assessment and self-assessment of individual psychological characteristics in a concise and understandable format for respondents. The analysis of the data was carried out taking into account three age cohorts of the subjects — the younger, middle and older age groups. Differences were recorded in the content of the representations of Tuvans of different age groups in relation to representatives of the Russian and Tuvan ethnic groups. The age factor had a more significant impact to ethnic representations than the place of residence and life.