Results of our studies

MOSCOW, October 01, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning what idea Russians have of a respected and worthy person, what qualities our contemporary should possess to earn the respect of others.

The most important for the "hero of our time" - today just as it was 10 years ago (a similar survey was carried out in 1997) - is to be "decent, to live according to one's conscience, and not for the sake of financial benefit and pleasures", as 57% of respondents identify (53% were of the same opinion in 1997). Qualities characteristic of a good family man occupy the second place: e.g. those of a faithful husband, son, father (45-46%). Tolerance towards people, the ability to take the other person's viewpoint into consideration (38-40%) and professionalism, proficiency in one's business (34-37%) finish up the four main qualities of a worthy and respected person.

The main change, recorded in the last 10 years is that orderliness has become increasingly important. No more than 14% talked of this property's being relevant for the "hero of our time" in 1997, whereas this figure has already reached 34% this year! Respondents now speak more frequently of patriotism (the demand for it has grown from 15% to 24%), citizenship (from 15% to 20%), faith in God and the observance of his Commandments (11% and 16%), and also high income (11% and 15%).

On the contrary, much less respect is now given to sincere, responsive people (36% and 26%), modest toilers, who do not strive for honors (22% and 9%), gifted, talented people (14% and 9%).

Men today find it more important than women do that a person should be a professional in what he does (41% and 34%), enterprising (29% and 24%), would defend his citizenship (22% and 18%); but it is no less important that he lives according to his conscience (54% and 60%), be a good family man (40% and 50%), tolerant to other people (35% and 41%), believe in God and try to live by his Commandments (11% and 21%).

Life in accordance with the Godly Commandments is more valued by older people (10% among the respondents who fall into the 18-24 age range versus 24% among the respondents of 60 years and older), the situation is about the same for the idea of living according to one's conscience, and not for the sake of financial benefit and pleasures (45% and 72%), modest labor (6% and 12%). Young people give greater value to professionalism (45% and 28%), the ability to organize one's own life (41% and 12%), culture, education (28% and 18%), high income (24% and 8%), influence in society (12% and 4%) than older people do.

The higher the level of education of respondents is, the more they value professionalism, high proficiency in one's own business (from 22% in the group with elementary education to 44% in the group with higher and uncompleted higher education), culture, education (18% and 29%), enterprising (14% and 28%), the skill to vindicate one's convictions (10% and 22%) but, at the same time, be able to consider other people's opinion (33% and 40%). However, hearfulness (36% and 21%) and modest labor (13% and 7%) are being less appreciated. Respondents with elementary education are the ones who mostly lay emphasis on decency (67% versus 55-57% in the groups of respondents with secondary and higher education).

Russians with high estimation of own financial standing pay more attention to qualities like enterprising (35% of respondents in the group with high estimation of own financial standing, 17% of respondents with low estimation of the same factor), professionalism (43% and 31%), high income (18% and 10%), talent (13% and 7%), connections and influence in society (12% and 6%). And vice versa, they lay less emphasis on decency (48% and 61%), hearfulness (20% and 34%), faith in God (10% and 21%), modest labor (5% and 16%).

The supporters of the Communist Party KPRF and LDPR have the most differing views of worthiness. Vladimir Zhirinovsky's electorate more frequently mentions the qualities of a good family man (50% and 36%), professional (44% and 35%), enterprising(41% and 15%), education (30% and 18%), convictions (30% and 21%), income (23% and 9%), connections and influence (14% and 7%). However, Gennady Zyuganov's voters find it more important to live by one's conscience (65% versus 46% in LDPR), and also... to believe in God and to live by his Commandments (29% against 13%)!.

The All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on August 18-19, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.

 

Which of the following characteristics does fit your image of a respected and worthy man of our day most. (up to five responses)

 

1997

2007

Decent, living according to his conscience, and not for the sake of financial benefit and pleasure

53

57

A good family man, a faithful husband/wife, caring son/daughter and parent

46

45

Tolerant to other people, capable of taking other people's point of view into consideration

40

38

A professional with a high level of proficciency

34

37

Law-abiding, respting and living by the laws establed by the state

14

34

Hearful, sympathetic, helping other people

36

26

Enterprising, capable of organizing his/her life

24

26

Educated, well-bred

27

25

Patriotic, placing the interests of the homeland before his/her own

15

24

Having convictions, defending his/her citizenship

15

20

Believing in God and trying to live by His Commandments

11

16

Well-off, with good income

11

15

A modest laborer, not striving for glory and honor

22

9

Gifted, talented

14

9

Possessing power, connection, influence in society

8

8

Hard to say

4

3

Which of the following characteristics does fit your image of a respected and worthy man of our day most. (up to five responses)

 

Total respondents

Age, years

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 and more

Decent, living according to his conscience, and not for the sake of financial benefit and pleasure

57

45

46

56

61

72

A good family man, a faithful husband/wife, caring son/daughter and parent

45

38

46

50

45

47

Tolerant to other people, capable of taking other people's point of view into consideration

38

34

36

35

42

39

A professional with a high level of proficciency

37

45

46

37

35

28

Law-abiding, respting and living by the laws establed by the state

34

27

33

34

36

35

Hearful, sympathetic, helping other people

26

41

34

28

23

12

Enterprising, capable of organizing his/her life

26

21

25

24

25

34

Educated, well-bred

25

28

26

27

26

18

Patriotic, placing the interests of the homeland before his/her own

24

23

21

21

27

27

Having convictions, defending his/her citizenship

20

22

23

20

21

14

Believing in God and trying to live by His Commandments

16

10

13

14

18

24

Well-off, with good income

15

24

19

16

12

8

A modest laborer, not striving for glory and honor

9

10

13

10

7

5

Gifted, talented

9

6

7

9

11

12

Possessing power, connection, influence in society

8

12

12

9

6

4

Hard to say

3

3

2

2

3

3

Which of the following characteristics does fit your image of a respected and worthy man of our day most (up to five responses)

 

Total respondents

Level of Education

Elementary or lower, junior secondary education

Secondary education (school or vocational school)

Post-secondary education (technical school)

Incomplete higher education (no less than 6 semesters), higher education

Decent, living according to his conscience, and not for the sake of financial benefit and pleasure

57

67

57

55

56

A good family man, a faithful husband/wife, caring son/daughter and parent

45

48

44

47

43

Tolerant to other people, capable of taking other people's point of view into consideration

38

33

36

41

40

A professional with a high level of proficciency

37

22

36

40

44

Law-abiding, respting and living by the laws establed by the state

34

32

32

32

39

Hearful, sympathetic, helping other people

26

14

27

28

28

Enterprising, capable of organizing his/her life

26

36

28

24

21

Educated, well-bred

25

18

20

29

29

Patriotic, placing the interests of the homeland before his/her own

24

22

25

22

27

Having convictions, defending his/her citizenship

20

10

19

22

22

Believing in God and trying to live by His Commandments

16

19

14

17

17

Well-off, with good income

15

6

18

16

13

A modest laborer, not striving for glory and honor

9

5

10

10

8

Gifted, talented

9

13

13

7

7

Possessing power, connection, influence in society

8

5

7

9

9

Hard to say

3

7

3

2

2

Which of the following characteristics does fit your image of a respected and worthy man of our day most. (up to five responses)

 

Total respondents

Estimation of own financial standing

Very high, high

Average

Low, very low

Decent, living according to his conscience, and not for the sake of financial benefit and pleasure

57

48

58

61

A good family man, a faithful husband/wife, caring son/daughter and parent

45

41

49

40

Tolerant to other people, capable of taking other people's point of view into consideration

38

34

40

35

A professional with a high level of proficciency

37

43

39

31

Law-abiding, respting and living by the laws establed by the state

34

25

36

33

Hearful, sympathetic, helping other people

26

35

27

17

Enterprising, capable of organizing his/her life

26

20

25

34

Educated, well-bred

25

25

26

20

Patriotic, placing the interests of the homeland before his/her own

24

23

25

22

Having convictions, defending his/her citizenship

20

19

21

16

Believing in God and trying to live by His Commandments

16

10

16

21

Well-off, with good income

15

18

16

10

A modest laborer, not striving for glory and honor

9

13

9

7

Gifted, talented

9

5

8

16

Possessing power, connection, influence in society

8

12

8

6

Hard to say

3

4

2

4

Which of the following characteristics does fit your image of a respected and worthy man of our day most. (up to five responses)

 

Total respondents

Political party supporters

"Unified Russia"

KPRF, Communist party

LDPR

"Fair Russia"

Decent, living according to his conscience, and not for the sake of financial benefit and pleasure

57

58

65

46

60

A good family man, a faithful husband/wife, caring son/daughter and parent

45

48

36

50

41

Tolerant to other people, capable of taking other people's point of view into consideration

38

42

33

41

42

A professional with a high level of proficciency

37

39

35

44

35

Law-abiding, respting and living by the laws establed by the state

34

33

37

30

36

Hearful, sympathetic, helping other people

26

30

15

41

22

Enterprising, capable of organizing his/her life

26

26

31

23

29

Educated, well-bred

25

26

18

30

23

Patriotic, placing the interests of the homeland before his/her own

24

23

29

24

28

Having convictions, defending his/her citizenship

20

19

21

30

17

Believing in God and trying to live by His Commandments

16

14

29

13

16

Well-off, with good income

15

15

9

23

12

A modest laborer, not striving for glory and honor

9

9

6

6

8

Gifted, talented

9

8

11

11

10

Possessing power, connection, influence in society

8

8

7

14

4

Hard to say

3

2

2

-

1


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