Types of Ecological Consciousness in Russian Fairy Tales

The purpose of the study was to identify what types of ecological consciousness are reflected in Russian fairy tales. A diagnostic toolkit based on a two-dimensional model of human—nature interactions has been developed. The method of qualitative expert analysis of specially selected passages from fairy tales was used, where man and nature act as heroes and it is possible to evaluate the valence of their impact on each other (from completely negative to completely positive). The study involved a purposive sample of 37 experts — representatives of socionomic professions. Contrary to the initial assumption, the predominance of the archaic type of eco-consciousness, manifested in feeling of dependence on nature and fear of it, was not revealed. According to experts, in these passages, nature affects humans mostly more positively than humans affect nature, that is, the eco-centric type of eco-consciousness dominates. The anthropocentric ("struggle with nature") and nature-centric ("harmony with nature") types are presented to a lesser extent. The pilot study was carried out on a limited number of fairy tale passages, but it helps to understand what ecological ideas are reflected in traditional folk art.

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