BEHAVIORAL STRATEGIES AND SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION OF SOCIAL DARWINISTS AND HUMAN-RIGHTS ADVOCATES

Abstract

The article presents the characteristics and specific features of supporters of two ideological currents: social Darwinism and the human-rights-based model. The aim of the study is to examine the socio-psychological adaptation of students with different ideological orientations and the behavioral strategies they display in conflict situations, as well as to identify the behavioral differences between them. The study was conducted with 91 undergraduate students, from first to fourth year, enrolled in the academic programs of Khachatur Abovyan Armenian State Pedagogical University. In the course of the research, testing and survey methods were applied, including the Thomas–Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument, the C. Rogers and R. Diamond method for diagnosing socio-psychological adaptation, and an author-developed questionnaire designed to determine the ideological orientation of the participants and reveal whether their views align more closely with social Darwinism or with the fundamental values of human rights. The results of the study indicate that behavioral strategies in conflict situations differ depending on the students’ ideological orientation. Supporters of social Darwinism predominantly employ a competitive strategy, while adherents of the human-rights-based model tend to rely on accommodation, collaboration, and compromise. Differences in socio-psychological adaptation were also identified: proponents of human rights demonstrate a higher level of adaptability, show empathy toward others, and place importance on their emotional comfort. For supporters of social Darwinism, the primary focus is achieving superiority over others. Social Darwinists and supporters of human rights are equally characterized by self-empathy and an internal locus of control.