A Respected Individual: Self-Identification Dynamics and Specifics, 1994–2020

Abstract

This is an article on the dynamics and specifics of people’s self-evaluation of the respect they receive from others, based on data from the “Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS–HSE)” (1994–2020). It shows that in recent years the dynamics of respect self-assessments have become somewhat shaky as opposed to them having been positive for quite a long period of time. In the minds of Russian people respect is rather vaguely linked to evaluation of financial status and possession of power. However there is a marked connection between where people place themselves on the scale of respect on one hand and such closely tied and unilateral components as tolerance and trust on the other. The influence of specific, personified interpersonal trust on the self-evaluations that were subject to analysis is more pronounced than that of general trust, which is still pretty low in Russian society. Association with the type of people who are generally respected by society depends more on one’s professional, civic and national identity than on political affiliation. Scores on the respect scale improve when a person partakes in work activity and has a positive outlook on their own professional qualities and achievements. People’s evaluation of how respected they are is boosted by professional growth and diminished by elevated anxiety on account of possibly becoming unemployed or facing difficulties trying to find a job, and in conditions of economic instability and uncertainty.