printSemantic Deviations Among Young People:
Research Methodology and Techniques
Zubok Yu.A.
Dr. Sci. (Sociol.), Prof., Acting Director of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of RAS, Head of the Center or Youth Sociology of the Institute of Sociology of FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia. uzubok@mail.ru
Seliverstova N.А.
Dr. Sci. (Sociol.), Prof., chief researcher the Center for Youth Sociology of the Institute of Sociology of FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia. nseliverstova@mosgu.ru
Zubok Yu.A., Seliverstova N.А. Semantic Deviations Among Young People: Research Methodology and Techniques. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2025. No 12. P. 28-49
In developing the concept of a social and cultural mechanism for youth life self-regulation this paper presents the theoretical and methodological analysis results of the reproduction and formation phenomenon in semantic deviations among young people. The significance of semantic deviations is schematically defined by their acceptance followed by a transition to semantic attitude and deviant behavior. Deviation indicators are developed basing on the social and cultural genesis of respective ideas. Empirical data on their distribution dynamics in the period 2021–2025 are offered. General fatigue from severe restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in the acceptance of semantic deviations in 2021. It has been established that the education level has the greatest differentiating potential in deviations’ spreading and internalizing: the higher the level, the lower the attitude toward deviance acceptamce. Age also impacts the decrease in deviations. Extreme poverty and access to luxury create conditions for semantic deviations escalations. Sociocultural space of small towns stands out as a most problematic factor bearing the risks for semantic deviations’ formation and inertia reproduction. A higher orientation toward semantic deviations is recorded among young men. Generational "solidarity" among young people in the acceptance of a number of semantic deviations was ascertained. These include both modern anomic and traditional archaic attitudes: an intrinsic value of "hype," acceptability of corruption and lawbreaking, permissibility for deceiving the governing bodies and a belief in women's responsibility in acts of sexual violence.
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