Russians’ understanding of a “normal life”

RUSSIANS’ UNDERSTANDING OF A “NORMAL LIFE” The idea of a “norm” is an important element of research on public sentiments. It allows for different opinions to be considered along the

continuum “agreement” (obligation) – “disagreement” (refusal), i.e. as “conformist,” “oppositional,” “radical,” “loyal,” etc. Especially noteworthy are ethical norms, which implicitly govern

and morally justify human behavior (as opposed to institutional norms, wherein deviating from obligations and commonly-accepted behavior leads to punishment and sanctions). These implicit

norms are connected to the notion of “normality” and, in this text, of what it is to “_live normally_.” This survey did not specify which area of life was being referred to; the goal of this

question is to analyze loyalty to a collective way of life (essentially people’s satisfaction with what the majority of people around have) or a preference for another normative social

order that implies a “better life.” We have previously surveyed people on separate aspects of “normality” (i.e. desired consumer behavior: “For which family necesseties should a family like

yours have enough money to live normally?”). The Levada Center has thrice presented this question and the distribution of responses to the survey did not change (see. Table 1.) Public

opinion is virtually evenly split: in December 2019 45% thought that _“living normally”_ meant _“living the same way as the majority of people around”_; 51% of respondents were of the

opinion that _“living normally”_ means _“living better than the majority of people around_.” Table 1. THERE ARE DIFFERENT IDEAS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO “LIVE NORMALLY.” WITH WHICH OF THE

FOLLOWING OPINIONS WOULD MOST AGREE WITH? (one answer; percentage by column)   March 2007* December 2017 December 2019 Living normally is living about the same as the majority of people

around  42  46 45 Living normally is living better than the majority of people around  42  45 51 It is difficult to say  16  9 4 * The form was for respondents to fill in individually. With

the share of respondents who have difficulty answering is generally higher than in an interview situation. It is interesting to observe which social and demographic groups prefer joining the

majority and which, conversely, demonstrate greater requirements in their understanding of a “normal life.” The demand for a _better life_ is more evident among the younger age category of

18-24. Young respondents evince demands for a higher standard of life (“quality of life”), and other normative patterns, i.e. the need to orientate themselves to the majority, are less

attractive and significant than among representatives of the older generation that is more conformist-minded. While the shares of respondents who hold opposing views are virtually equal 

among older Russians (47% and 48% in 2019), for the youngest age groups the share of “proponents” of a better life is significantly higher (58% and 40% respectively). Figure 1. The

relationship between the two views cut by age group _(the higher the value, the higher the support for the view “living normally is living about the same as the majority of people around”; 1

reflects a balance of opinions)_ Holding a higher education does not differentiate these perceptions of a “normal life”: the difference between those respondents who have one and those who

don’t is not statistically significant.[1] Table 2. Distribution in relation to education (percentage according to the column)   Has a higher education Doesn’t have a higher education 2007

2017 2019 2007 2017 2019 Living normally is living about the same as the majority of people around 31 42 41 44 48 46 Living normally is living better than the majority of people around 48 50

53 41 43 50 It is difficult to say 21 8 6 15 9 4 Note that from 2007 to 2019 both subgroups and the population saw a general increase in the share of those who supported the opinion that a

normal life is not the life that the majority live. Over 12 years the number of reasons for the population to join the majority and consider this “way of life” the norm has declined. This is

partially supported by the trends in the integral indicator of public sentiment, the Public Moods Index (Indeks Sotsialnykh Nastroyeniy — ISN), the value of which reflected more optimism in

2007 than in 2019.[2] We refer to the ISN to compare the opinions of the so-called “conformists” and proponents of a “better life” (with data from December 2019). Among the respondents who

are inclined towards the majority and prefer to “_live like everyone_,” the ISN is higher, i.e. these respondents declare more optimistic ratings and expectations in economics, the political

life of Russia, and personal financial well-being. On the other hand, among respondents who want to “_live better than the majority of people around_” these sentiments and expectations were

more pessimistic (Figure 2). Figure 2. The Public Mood Index (and its individual components) cut along the two groups with ideas about a “normal life,” December 2019 The largest difference

(15 points) is in the values of one of the individual indicators of the ISN is the “Government Index”: Russian residents who consider the norm to be a “life like the people around them” more

frequently declare approval of the president’s and government’s actions than those who aspire to “live better than the majority of people around” (Figure 2). They also give a more positive

rating to the situation in Russia (another indicator of the ISN — the “Russia Index”, difference of 12 points). Taking into account specifically the differences in the social and political

components of the ISN, it is interesting to see whether there are differences in the level of declared readiness to vote in elections among respondents with different ideas of a “normal

life.”[3] The survey form included a question on readiness to vote in the upcoming elections to the State Duma (distributions of public preferences as a whole can be seen here). Despite the

fact that the list of parties presented to respondents on the answer card included many positions, only those that had enough support to allow for separate analysis were selected. Table 3.

Party Voting (percentage by column)   United Russia LDPR CPRF “I won’t vote” Living normally is living about the same as the majority of people around 53 43 50 38 Living normally is living

better than the majority of people around 45 52 44 58 It is difficult to say 2 5 6 5 The distribution of opinions among supporters of the three parties is virtually identical, while among

respondents who would not participate in the State Duma elections the most popular opinion is “living normally is living better than the majority of people around” (58% vs 38%). It turns out

that so-called “conformists” that consider the norm for life is aspiring to live like the majority of people around are more likely to declare their participation in possible elections than

the so-called “non-conformists” who wish to “_live better than people around them_.” A large part of them would declare their abstention from participating in the elections. The demand for

a “better life” is growing among polar opposite (by level of urbanization and opportunity) types of population centers: Moscow and rural areas. This is especially noticeable in the

distribution of opinions among Moscow residents, whose idea of a “normal” way of life has changed (Table 4). While in 2007 and 2017 the share of respondents who determined their ideas of a

“normal life” by that of the majority was predominant, in 2019 the opinion that “_living normally is living better than people around_” became predominant. Among rural residents the changes

are less extreme, but, now, the shares of respondents who hold opposing views are becoming more equal. Table 4. Distribution of opinions cut by area of residence (percentage according to

column)   Moscow residents Rural residents 2007 2017 2019 2007 2017 2019 Living normally is living about the same as the majority of people around 50 64 39 48 50 48 Living normally is living

better than the majority of people around 41 31 57 39 42 48 It is difficult to say 9 5 4 14 8 4 [1] Only respondents with a lower than average level of education differ. Among them the

support for the view that “living normally is living about the same as the majority of people around” is more evident. [2] All trends of the ISN among the populations a whole beginning in

2002 are available in the section “Indicators.” [3] The results of this survey should not be considered indicators of participation in possible elections; they only attest to the party

alignments of the respondents and their readiness (at survey time) to participate in such an event. _Translated by Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (formerly

Monterey Institute of International Studies)._ _The ANO Levada Center has been included in the registry of non-commercial organizations acting as foreign agents. Read the Director of the

Levada Center’s statement of disagreement with this decision here._