Ethnic stereotypes and attitudes as the psychological determinants of national and ethnic conflicts

The article is devoted to revealing psychological reasons of conflicts among adolescents of different nationalities using the questionnaire method. To prevent natsional-ethnic conflict among adolescents it is important to know the content of these determinants. The survey was conducted with the participation of 98 teenagers (Russian, Kazakhs, Tatars, representatives of the peoples of the Caucasus, as well as young people from ethnic families) living in the city of Astrakhan. The results showed that positive or indifferent attitude towards other nationalities prevails in the ethnic attitudes of adolescents. During the interaction, they emphasize the positive qualities of their nationality and negative qualities in people of other nationalities. Consequently, adolescents tend to perceive other nationalities through the prism of ethnic favoritism, and the manifestation of ethnic discrimination that give rise to national-ethnic conflicts in teenage environment. Most adolescents are not interested in the culture and traditions of other nations. That is why the transformation of ethnic attitudes and stereotypes is an important aspect of prevention of interethnic conflicts among adolescents. It shoul be mentioned that adolescent girls are less focused on the nationality of other people in the interaction than boys. In many cases teens believe that it is better to create harmonious relations with other nations, to be tolerant, to show respect, kindness, courtesy, understanding and the search for compromise in a situation of disagreement.