Suchergebnisse

The phenomenon of success is covered in many works of philosophers, psychologists, and sociologists who study this concept, the ethics of success and the pursuit of it in different social groups. However, achieving success as a special type of activity that is emerging in modern Russia remains largely outside the scope of empirical analysis.

This article examines the genesis of the concept of "success" from antiquity to the present day, gives its definition as a subject of empirical research. The study was based on a survey conducted with the participation of the author among young Muscovites (25 - 30 years old). This age group was chosen because for sociological analysis the most interesting is the generational cohort that grew up and formed during the years of the liberal reformation, in a state and society that differ from the state and society of the Soviet type. In this age group, the most interesting are individuals who already have life experience and are implementing effective life strategies. Therefore, a group of Muscovites aged 25–30, who assess themselves as successful people, was selected for the analysis.

The analysis of relevant social and socio-psychological characteristics of the group of respondents who define themselves as "successful" is carried out in comparison with the group of "losers". Comparative analysis showed that these groups implement two life programmes: survival and success, determined by status (education, position, income) and socio-psychological characteristics (attitude to work, methods of selection and setting goals, the level of their implementation, type of rationality). Each of these programmes has its own behavioural logic. Thus, low labour motivation and activity of "losers", their low production status and very limited material opportunities, dooming them to survival, form a model of social maladjustment that impedes the healthy development of the economy and society. On the contrary, success in life is based on a high personal and material interest in one's work, on dedication to work and financial independence. Personal ways of achieving success play an equally important role here: self-confidence, optimism; the ability to set simple and clear goals for oneself, to show perseverance in their implementation. At the same time, it was revealed that successful young Muscovites remain people who are able to correlate their own and other people's interests, when a person perceives his being not alienated from the existence of other people. This is a new socio-cultural type, combining traits of a social character that were not very compatible in the recent past, realising an ethically and socially safe model of life success.

The ways to achieve success are as diverse as human abilities and needs. Nevertheless, based on the previous theoretical and methodological analysis, we believe that among modern youth, generalized culturally, socially and personally determined models of success and failure are formed, which implement certain life programs in our society.
The article presents the results of a comparative analysis of two groups of young people who achieved and did not achieve success in life, representing a generational cohort that grew up and formed in a society and state that are radically different from the society and state of the Soviet type. In this regard, answers are given to the questions: what are the real success and failure in modern Russian society; what are their distinctive social and socio-psychological characteristics and role in society.
The analysis showed that these groups implement two basic life programs in our society: survival and success, determined by status (education, position, income) and socio-psychological characteristics (methods of selecting and setting goals, the level of their implementation, the type of rationality, attitude to work). Doomed to survival, mismatch of human life with its meaning – lead to a decrease in the threshold of personal and social responsibility, a sense of inferiority, inferiority of one's personality, low labor activity, forming a model of social maladaptation that hinders the healthy development of the economy and society. The people who represent it, in fact, are slaves not only to circumstances, but also to the logic of everyday life built by them. On the contrary, the life and business success of young Muscovites is based on their status achievements in education and work, as well as on personal characteristics and ways to achieve success: self-confidence, optimism, the ability to set simple and clear goals, and perseverance in their implementation. This is not only an effective model of active adaptation to market conditions based on conscious and responsible choice, but also the construction of social reality based on developed personal potential. Successful Muscovites remain people who are able to relate their own and other people's interests, when a person perceives their being as alienated from the being of other people. This is a new socio-cultural type that implements an ethical and socially safe model of life success.

The author of the reviewed monograph argues that social classes have not disappeared, but rather they have acquired new qualities and parameters. Thus J.T. Toschenko shows the need for a new approach towards analyzing social stratification. This analysis should be based not on "income, education and social status, but it should include such new factors as guaranteed sustained employment, the availability of social protection, preserving professional identity, participating in governance and confidence in the future". The group of people who are deprived of any social achievements is going to keep growing. The author uses the term "the precariat" for those persons who lack any legal guarantees or legal protection of their basic needs. The precariat is characterised by multiple deprivation, which has never been observed on this scale before.

The monograph aims at highlighting the main reasons for the emergence of this "protoclass". The main reason being the turbulence, the inconsistency and the distortion of social processes, which lead to a traumatized society, it being a result of long-term degradation and the social system withering away.