The Influence of Attitude to Non-Violence on the Choice of Interaction Positions in Adolescence

Introduction. The relevance of the problem is due to the significance of identifying the factors that contribute to the choice of effective ways of interaction, which is non-violence. The purpose of the work was to identify the psychological features of the influence of the attitude to non-violence on the choice of young people in the process of tense or conflict communication positions of interaction: coercion, manipulation, non-violence, non-interference. Materials and Methods. In order to diagnose the attitude to non-violence, the questionnaire of D. Maiton et al. was used, which includes the scales: “physical non-violence”, “psychological non-violence”, “value orientation”, “help/empathy”, “satyagraha” (search for the truth), “tapasya” (self-sacrifice). Preferences in the choice of positions of interaction – were revealed by means of the author’s questionnaire, which provides the scales: “coercion”, “manipulation”, “non-violence”, “non-interference”. The study involved 144 high school students from one of the schools in Cherepovets and students from Cherepovets State University, aged 16 to 20, with 36.11 % male participants. The data were analyzed using correlation and regression analysis (multiple logistic regression). Results. Based on correlation and regression analysis, the following was revealed: the choice of the position of coercion is influenced by a value orientation in combination with low levels of physical, psychological non-violence, help and empathy for others; the choice of the position of manipulation – low levels of psychological non-violence, help and empathy in combination with moderate influence of a value orientation; the choice of the position of non-violence – a value orientation in combination with high levels of psychological non-violence, help and empathy, tapasya as the ability to sacrifice one’s own interests; the choice of a non-interventionist position is the rejection of psychological non-violence, combined with a lack of desire to achieve results in accordance with one’s goals and values. Discussion and Conclusion. It is concluded that the value aspect of non-violence is important for effective interaction using non-violent methods, as well as for creating appropriate conditions in educational organizations to develop the ability of the younger generation to interact in a non-violent manner.