What is tolerance and why is it needed? The concept of tolerance in simple words What does human tolerance mean?

Tolerance is an integrated quality. If it is formed, it manifests itself in all life situations and in relation to all people. At the same time, experience shows that a person can be tolerant in relationships with loved ones and acquaintances, but be dismissive and intolerant of people of other faiths or nationalities. In this regard, in our opinion, we can talk about (interpersonal, social, national tolerance and religious tolerance). Interpersonal tolerance manifests itself in relation to a specific person, social tolerance - towards a specific group, society, national - towards another nation; religious tolerance - towards another faith.

In our opinion, tolerant personality is a person who knows himself well and understands other people.

When we talk about a tolerant person, we do not mean giving up our own views, value orientations and ideals. Tolerance should not be reduced to indifference, conformism, infringement of one’s own interests, but presupposes, on the one hand, stability, as a person’s ability to realize his personal positions, and on the other, flexibility, as the ability to respect the positions and values ​​of other people.

Intolerant personality can be described as a person who does not have the qualities of flexibility in interacting with others and empathy towards them. ( Intolerance – it is based on the belief that your group, your belief system, your way of life is higher, better than others. Denying the right to exist to someone who holds different views, preference is given to suppression rather than persuasion (Kinkulkin A.T.).

Now let’s figure out how a tolerant person differs from an intolerant one. There are quite a lot of these differences.

1. Knowing yourself. Tolerant people try to understand their strengths and weaknesses. They treat themselves critically and do not strive to blame others for all their troubles and misfortunes. Intolerant people notice more advantages in themselves than disadvantages. They tend to blame others for their problems.

Psychologists have found that a tolerant person has a significantly larger gap between the “ideal self” (the idea of ​​what I would like to become) and the “real self” (the idea of ​​what I am) than an intolerant person who both “I”s are practically the same. Tolerant people, knowing about their strengths and weaknesses, are less satisfied with themselves, but due to this, they have a higher potential for self-development. An intolerant person notices more advantages than disadvantages in himself, therefore he is more likely to blame others for all problems.

2. Security. It is difficult for an intolerant person to live in harmony not only with others, but also with himself. He is afraid of his social environment and even of himself: he is afraid of his instincts, feelings, and lives with a feeling of constant threat to himself. A tolerant person usually feels safe and therefore does not seek to defend himself from other people. The absence of a threat or the belief that it can be dealt with is an important condition for the formation of a tolerant personality.

3. Responsibility. An intolerant person believes that the events that occur do not depend on him. He seeks to relieve himself of responsibility for what happens around him. This feature leads to the formation of prejudices towards other people. The position is that it is not me who hates and harms people, it is they who hate and harm me. Tolerant people do not shift responsibility to others; they are always ready to answer for their actions.

4. Need for definition. Intolerant individuals divide the world into two parts: black and white. There are no halftones for them. There are only two kinds of people - bad and good. They emphasize the differences between “us” and “outsiders.” It is difficult for them to treat events neutrally. They either approve of them or they don't. A tolerant person, on the contrary, sees the world in all its diversity.

5. Self-orientation – orientation towards others. Tolerant people are more self-oriented at work, creative process, theoretical reflections. In problematic situations, they tend to blame themselves rather than others. Such people strive for personal independence more than for belonging to external institutions and authorities, since they do not need to hide behind someone.

Research by psychologists has shown that the desire to belong to social institutions among intolerant people is much stronger than among tolerant people. Thus, girls with anti-Semitic tendencies are more likely to form sisterhoods, more religious, and more patriotic. Many studies find a positive connection between a person's existence of prejudices and high “patriotism.” The connection between nationalism and hatred of minorities in Nazi Germany was shown.

4. Commitment to order . Psychologists have discovered that an intolerant person is too great importance imparts cleanliness, good manners, and politeness. It is important for him that everything is in order. For tolerant people, these qualities are not of such great value and fade into the background.

The Nazis assigned an extremely important role to virtue. Hitler preached asceticism. In accordance with Nazi beliefs, a person's entire life had to proceed according to protocol. Jews were constantly reproached for dishonesty, immorality, and uncleanliness.

An intolerant person not only loves order in general, he especially loves social order. In his desire to belong to a party, a nationality, a group, he finds the security and certainty that he so needs. This affiliation gives him protection from constant anxiety.

7. The ability to empathize. This ability is defined as social sensitivity, the ability to formulate correct judgments about other people.

What is the basis of empathic abilities is not precisely defined. Perhaps this is a product of a favorable family atmosphere, developed aesthetic feelings, and high social values.

One of the experimental studies revealed the ability to empathize in tolerant and intolerant students. For 20 minutes, students of the same gender and age talked about various topics with each other in private. Everyone formed their own idea of ​​their interlocutor. It turned out that intolerant students evaluated their partners in their own image and likeness, that is, they looked like intolerant individuals in their eyes. Tolerant students turned out to be more accurate in their judgments and adequately assessed both tolerant and intolerant interlocutors.

8 Sense of humor. A sense of humor and the ability to laugh at oneself are important traits of a tolerant person. Such people know how to laugh at their own shortcomings, and they do not strive for superiority over others.

9. Authoritarianism. For an intolerant person, social hierarchy is extremely important. When American students were asked to name people whom they consider great, the intolerant ones named the names of leaders who had power over others (Napoleon, Bismarck, etc.), and the tolerant ones, due to their personal characteristics, named scientists and artists (Chaplin, Einstein, etc.). An intolerant person is satisfied with life in an authoritarian society with strong power. Such a person is convinced that strict discipline is very important. A tolerant person prefers to live in a free, democratic society.

Thus, there are two ways of personality development: intolerant and tolerant.

The first path is characterized by the idea of ​​one’s own exclusivity, the desire to transfer responsibility to others, a feeling of impending threat, the need for strict order and the desire for strong power. ( Anecdote: – Why, why, why doesn’t anyone love me, so that you all die?!).

The second is the path of a free person who knows himself well, with a positive attitude towards others and a benevolent attitude towards the world.

The division of people into tolerant and intolerant is very arbitrary. Every person in his life commits both tolerant and intolerant actions. However, the tendency to behave one way or another can become a stable personality trait.

What are the main features of a tolerant personality? This:

· affection for other people;

· leniency;

· patience;

· sense of humor;

· sensitivity;

· confidence;

· altruism;

· tolerance for differences (national, religious, etc.);

· ability to control oneself;

· goodwill;

· the ability not to judge others;

· humanism;

· ability to listen to the interlocutor;

· curiosity;

· ability to empathize.

(This list of traits should be written on the board as students will refer to it as they do the exercises.)

A positive understanding of tolerance is also achieved through understanding the manifestations of its opposite - intolerance or intolerance. Intolerance is based on the belief that your group, your belief system, your way of life is superior to others. This is not just a lack of a sense of solidarity, it is a rejection of the other for the fact that he looks different, thinks differently, acts differently, simply for the fact that he exists. This view of intolerance should not be confused with youthful intolerance - a mixture of intransigence and protest. We are talking rather about such individual and collective insanity, which, starting with irritation, can lead to murder. Intolerance leads to domination and destruction, denies the right to exist to those who hold different views, and determines the preference for suppression rather than persuasion. Intolerances hate innovation because it rejects or changes old models. Its results can manifest themselves in a wide range: from ordinary impoliteness, disdain for others or irritation - to ethnic cleansing and genocide, the deliberate destruction of people. Intolerance contributes to the commission of crimes that are a disgrace to humanity. It is necessary to understand the consequences of intolerance for society and be able to evaluate its manifestations as a violation of human rights. Manifestations of intolerance:

Insults, ridicule, expressions of disdain;

Ignoring (refusal to talk, to acknowledge);

Negative stereotypes, prejudices, prejudices (forming a generalized opinion about a person belonging to a different culture, gender, race, ethnic group, usually based on negative characteristics);

Ethnocentrism (understanding and assessing life phenomena through the prism of the values ​​and traditions of one’s own group as a reference group and better than other groups);

Search for an enemy (shifting the blame for misfortunes, troubles and social problems to one group or another);

Harassment, intimidation, threats;

Discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation and other differences (deprivation of social benefits, denial of human rights, isolation in society);

Racism (discrimination against members of a particular race based on the premise that some races are superior to others);

Xenophobia in the form of ethnophobia (anti-Semitism, Caucasian phobia, etc.), religious phobias, migrant phobia (hostility towards representatives of other cultures and groups, the belief that “strangers” are harmful to society, persecution of “strangers”);

Nationalism (the belief in the superiority of one’s nation over others and that one’s nation has more rights);

Fascism (a reactionary anti-democratic regime characterized by extreme forms of violence and mass terror);

Imperialism (the conquest of some peoples by others in order to control the wealth and resources of the subject peoples);

Exploitation (using someone else's time and labor without fair compensation, reckless use of resources and natural wealth);

Desecration of religious or cultural symbols;

Religious persecution (inculcation of a particular faith, its values ​​and rituals);

Expulsion (official or forced);

Segregation, including apartheid (the forced separation of people of different races, religions or genders, usually to the detriment of the interests of one group);

Repression (forced deprivation of the opportunity to realize human rights), destruction and genocide (incarceration, physical violence, attacks, murders).

Thus, and The intolerant class is characterized by the following features:

ü Ignoring

ü Suspension

ü Name-calling

ü Accusation, reproaches

ü Condemnation, criticism

ü Moralizing, preaching

You can determine whether a class is intolerant based on the following criteria:

Language. Do children call each other names or use derogatory terms or innuendo when addressing classmates or when describing their appearance?

Stereotypes. Do children use negative generalizations when talking about ethnic groups, people with disabilities, the elderly, or other people who are different from them?

Ridicule. Do children try to embarrass their classmates by calling attention to certain characteristics they have, mistakes they have made, or the lives of their families or friends?

Prejudice. Do children believe that some of them may be worse or stupider because of their race or nationality or because of some personality traits? Do they believe that children who profess other religions are not worth hanging out with and playing with?

Search for a scapegoat. Do children tend to blame for the troubles that happen to them, for conflicts, bad behavior, losses in sports and other competitions of one or more classmates?

Discrimination. Are there children in the class who are always avoided by other classmates (not chosen to be paired up, not invited to join the team)?

Ostracism (boycott). Do children have periods when they do not talk to any of their classmates or do not include them in joint activities?
The pursuit. Do some children try to ruin the mood of others by pushing them out of the row during formation, leaving anonymous notes of unpleasant content or caricatures on their desks or in textbooks? Do they use other methods in their behavior that force the persecuted child to submit to the group or leave it?

Desecration or corruption. Do any children make obscene writings or drawings, or otherwise show disrespect for the property of others or the work done by children at school?

Intimidation. Do some children deliberately intimidate those smaller or weaker than them, or use their social status or force to force others to act against their will?

Exile. Have any children been unfairly or unreasonably kicked out of a team, club or working group?

Alienation. Are there children who are stubbornly and unfairly not allowed to participate in common games or extracurricular activities, or who are not accepted into the team?

Segregation. Do children tend to gather and socialize in groups based on race, religion, nationality, or gender?

Suppression. Are some children forced or threatened not to participate in general discussions or express their opinions when communicating with classmates?

Violence. Have some children been attacked or physically abused by other children?

Thus, there are two ways of personality development: intolerant and tolerant. The intolerant path is characterized by the idea of ​​one’s own exclusivity, the desire to transfer responsibility to the environment, a feeling of impending threat, the need for order, and the desire for strong power. The other path is the path of a free person who knows himself well and therefore recognizes others. A good attitude towards yourself coexists with a positive attitude towards others and a friendly attitude towards the world.

(Lecture on the topic “What is the difference between a tolerant person and an intolerant one” (prepared on the basis of the works of G. Allport, see 61)

What does it mean to be modern? This is not only an excellent knowledge of new trends and technical innovations, but also the ability to be open, understanding, and tolerant. In this article we will talk about who a tolerant person is, what his characteristics are, the positive and negative aspects of this quality.

Problems of today

Somehow, imperceptibly and without unnecessary talk, we entered the 21st century. What was once considered a fantastic future now seems like an ordinary present. The development of technology, colossal progress, it would seem that all this is supposed to change life for the better and smooth out negative influences. But the crime rate continues to rise, and aggressive behavior in society is intensifying.

This can also be seen at the global level: conflicts between states, the desire to seize new lands and eradicate independence. The same thing happens in ordinary interpersonal communication. The stronger in character strive for power and influence over the weak, not taking into account their interests, but pursuing personal gain.

Confrontation against the background of ethnic differences has a particularly strong influence on the development of negative tendencies.

Perhaps it is a tolerant person who is the key to a future without war, murder and violence. But raising a new generation with similar qualities takes time and desire.

Concept of tolerance

This concept has both philosophical and social significance. In principle, they both reflect one single essence - tolerance. The ability to calmly relate to habits, views, and morals that are different from one’s own.

This quality must be developed in relation to the culture of other peoples and nations, various religious movements. A tolerant person is always more confident in himself. He is aware of personal positions and is open to comparison with other points of view. Not afraid to try and learn new things.

G. K. Chesterton said: “Tolerance is the virtue of people who believe in nothing.” That is why it is necessary to have certain moral standards, boundaries that a person is not ready to cross. Because it is impossible to be tolerant of everything.

The concepts of tolerance and permissiveness, indifference to values ​​should not be confused.

By showing respect for the values ​​of other people, their faith, culture, you can learn a lot of new things and meet incredible personalities. To be open is to experience the world every day. But at the same time, you should not allow yourself to be filled with “garbage,” negative emotions, and hostility.

Basic principles

If you think about the question of what a tolerant person means, you can come to the conclusion: such a concept includes a number of qualities. In addition, you can show tolerance in completely different areas of life.

For example, politics. This is a particularly important part where tolerance must be constant. Respect and acceptance of other points of view in government, tolerance towards people with different political views. But even here it is very difficult to achieve mutual understanding. Conflict situations on this basis can flare up among friends and family. And if you are unable to accept the choice of another person, then it is best to stop such conversations as soon as they begin.

Tolerance is also necessary in science. Today, there are various theories and assumptions, everyone chooses what to believe. However, this is not a reason to ridicule and condemn others for their different view of the world.

The manifestation of this quality is indispensable for people who occupy leadership positions. They must be open-minded and ready for constructive dialogue. The ability to find common interests will help inspire the team to new achievements.

In order to understand how to raise a tolerant person, it is necessary to study in detail the entire breadth of this quality.

Types of tolerance

Above we got acquainted with the areas of application. But tolerance can be divided into several types, applying the concept to a person’s personality. This is dividing it from a psychological point of view.

The very first manifestations of tolerance are inherent in us from birth. This is a natural human quality that allows a child to accept his parents as they are. He does not understand what is good and what is bad in adult behavior. In infancy, social skills have not yet been formed; the formation of one’s own personality is just beginning. On the one hand, this is a convenient and necessary way to help you feel protected, but in special cases, the negative influence of the family can harm the baby’s psyche.

With development and maturation, experience accumulates and the moral side of the issue appears. Quite often, a tolerant person restrains his emotions and suppresses them within himself. How often do moments arise when we have to endure people whose opinions fundamentally do not coincide with ours. This is one of the main problems of modern society - non-acceptance of each other, but only an external manifestation of understanding.

The most developed quality is moral tolerance. This is the ability not only to accept other people's views, but also your own. Don’t be afraid to show them, believe in your own rightness.

How to develop tolerance?

What a tolerant person means is very well described by the domestic teacher Vulfov. In his understanding, this is a person capable of harmoniously coexisting with other people who have their own mentality and lead a different way of life.

IN modern world The aspect of cultivating a tolerant and respectful attitude towards other cultures is becoming increasingly clear. This requires special attention and a detailed approach. For good interethnic communication, it is necessary to understand and accept the characteristics of other peoples and at the same time respect one’s historical values.

Firstly, it is necessary to teach a calm attitude towards other cultures and movements. At the same time, a person must be able to analyze and highlight points that differ from general standards, and distinguish between both positive and negative details. Secondly, you need to constantly learn, develop, and get to know the world. Learn new cultures and rules. Thirdly, it is necessary to appreciate the achievements of other people.

The main thing to understand is that differences exist, and that's not a bad thing.

How to distinguish a tolerant person?

Every day we communicate with a lot of people: family, friends, colleagues, random passers-by, store clerks. Have you ever wondered which of them has this quality? Let's try to answer the question: what is a tolerant person?

It is worth noting that the main acceptance is personal. If your acquaintance or friend knows how to take responsibility for his actions and in difficult situations does not shift the blame to others, then his internal tolerance is working. Such a person understands perfectly well that “I am ideal” and “I am real” are often two different things. An adequate assessment of one's own personality, a critical attitude towards oneself - these are the foundations of a tolerant person.

In addition, such people are always open to new things. They are sociable and non-aggressive. They are interested in the world in all its manifestations. Such people do not divide everything into black and white, but are willing to put others into perspective. These are independent and strong individuals who know how to work for results. They are not alien to a sense of humor, this is especially evident in the opportunity to laugh at their own shortcomings, which no one is deprived of.

How to identify a person who does not have tolerance?

From what you have read above, it is easy enough to conclude what the antipode is. People who are selfish, narcissistic, with a strong belief in their own ideality are not tolerant. They are not used to losing and if they lose, they blame everyone but themselves.

Society causes them fears and fears. Everyone seems to be an enemy who is up to something dastardly. In this regard, communication with such people is quite difficult. They are reserved and taciturn. In any situation, no matter how it turns out, they do not see their own influence. It seems to them that nothing depends on them. Any assessment is based on the personal “I”. Such people have difficulty accepting democracy; strict control is preferable to them.

With age, it becomes more and more difficult to develop the qualities of a tolerant person, so attention should be paid to this from birth.

Family education

Psychologists say that everything new can be introduced into a child’s mind during pregnancy. But the main thing to remember is: best way- this is a personal example. Although this is the most difficult path. Raising a tolerant person begins from the moment he appears and lasts throughout his life. Therefore, you should not place high hopes on preschool institutions or teachers. Of course, they also play a significant role, but the main example is always the parent.

conclusions

From everything said above, it is clear what tolerance is and what the meaning of the word is. A tolerant person does not have any narrow definitions. These are psychological, moral, ethical standards. This quality is inherent in everyone from birth, but can be lost. A warm, respectful atmosphere in the family is the basis on which further education is built.

For the world to acquire new shades for us, to sparkle with all the colors of the rainbow, we need to open our mind and soul, we need to believe in ourselves and in others.

Not all people use the concept of tolerance in their lives. What it is? These are norms of behavior accepted in a social environment, which are expressed in people’s tolerance for each other, religions, customs and feelings. It can be said that The basis of tolerance is considered to be the right to express thoughts of every person. These are human feelings that are expressed in people’s positive attitude towards something, but not towards violations of moral and universal principles. This word has come into use not so long ago; let’s try to understand this concept in more detail.

peony flower

Tolerance includes such human qualities as:

• Compassion and tolerance;
• Forgiveness and mercy;
• Perception of one's neighbor with all his shortcomings;
• Respect for people's rights and freedoms;
• Desire to cooperate;
• Maintaining a spirit of partnership and parity among people.

In 1995, the UNESCO Declaration of Principles on Tolerance was adopted.

According to this document, tolerance is:

• Patience;
• Lack of aggression;
• Philosophical worldview and the ability to philosophically evaluate life positions and manifestations of the character of other people.

Depending on the area of ​​manifestation, tolerance is divided into the following categories:

• Political;
• Pedagogical;
• Medical;
• Scientific;
• Administrative, etc.

Types and types of tolerance in modern society

The concept of tolerance is not just a Wikipedia definition. There are different definitions, as well as divisions of tolerance into types, types, subspecies and subtypes. Psychologists divide tolerance into four types, which are based on interpersonal communication between people:

1. Natural (natural). This type of tolerance is characterized by the fact that the child cannot contrast his own “I” with the world around him. He has too little experience for this. Children's consciousness is driven by forgiveness and trust. It is these qualities that allow a little person to adapt to living conditions. However, these character traits force the baby to suppress his desires and manifestations of will.

People with different skin colors can be tolerant of each other

1. Moral tolerance. This type of tolerance is characteristic of self-sufficient and wise people who are able to use the body’s psychological defense mechanisms. The main manifestation of this attitude is considered to be tolerance towards others. Passions of indignation may rage inside him and negative energy may accumulate, but outwardly the person is extremely calm.

1. Moral tolerance. It will be surprising to many people that two paragraphs with synonymous subheadings appear in a row. But there is a significant difference between moral and moral tolerance. Moral tolerance is different in that it determines the degree of trust in a person. This type is typical for people who try to accept the thoughts, values, stereotypes, and life principles of another person. It is easy for such people to bear conflict situations and withstand stress.

1. Ethnic tolerance. Causes long-suffering and lack of judgment towards foreign culture, customs and way of life.

A person endowed with ethnic tolerance is capable of for a long time to live in an environment that is unusual, and sometimes even unpleasant for him, of a foreign culture and traditions.

Main types of tolerance consist of four subtypes:

1. A person’s attitude towards a situation and the people taking part in it. Subdivided situational tolerance to the following levels:

• Low level characteristic of a person’s negative attitude towards the world and the surrounding reality (“they irritate me”);
• On average level the person expresses tolerance towards his interlocutors (“I like communicating with them, and I understand them perfectly”);
• Highest level characterized by complete acceptance of a person by a person (“I feel comfortable and good with them”).

1. A person’s position relative to other people, based on political, ethnic and national characteristics. This subtype of tolerance is called typological.
2. Another subtype of tolerance is professional. This is people’s reaction to the environment in which they are forced to spend a large amount of time - employees, co-workers, colleagues.
3. Collective Tolerance (general) consists of the characteristics that a person exhibits as a result of the previous three observations. Their systematization gives a general picture of the level of tolerance of an individual.

Many people are intolerant of men and women with tattoos

Examples of tolerance from life

The most obvious manifestations of tolerance in life, as a rule, are associated with religion: you can meet a Christian who talks with a Muslim, and both of them are tolerant of each other, listen to each other’s position and opinion. Another example of tolerance can be a conversation between people of different political views. The important thing is that l people don't try to impose their point of view, but have the strength to acknowledge that the other person may not share your political beliefs.

Often people are not tolerant of appearance people who dress or look completely different from you. For example, you don’t like tattoos and as soon as you see a girl with a tattoo, your attitude towards her immediately deteriorates, or you don’t want to communicate with her at all.

It will be absolutely intolerant to express your position as the only correct one, to hint in every possible way that a person is wrong, that all his arguments seem stupid or insignificant to you. In this situation, you can safely call yourself an intolerant person.

Tolerance and intolerance

Striving to become tolerant, a person does not think about the fact that his manifestations of tolerance sometimes have the nature of violence against himself. That is, he does not have moral tolerance, which is conditioned by acceptance and forgiveness. This process occurs at the level of moral tolerance, which suppresses internal rejection of any processes.

Tolerance and intolerance manifest themselves in all spheres of human relationships: professional, interethnic, interreligious and others.

How to understand that a person is tolerant? As a rule, the following signs of tolerance and a tolerant personality are distinguished:

1. Humor. The ability to laugh at one’s own shortcomings is the main difference between a tolerant person. He reacts adequately to criticism and jokes directed at him.

1. Self-realization.

A tolerant person is focused on self-improvement and the implementation of his plans.

He is inquisitive, open with people and selflessly comes to the first call for help. An intolerant individual does not know how to empathize and does not show compassion for people. He cannot determine himself and does not strive for self-improvement.

1. Self-esteem. Tolerance is a person’s ability to adequately evaluate himself and others. He clearly knows and strives to eradicate them. Tolerance implies harmony between people with the world and within themselves. An intolerant person is accustomed to blaming others for his troubles. He transfers all the blame to those around him, to the circumstances. At the same time, intolerant people extol their own achievements and push forward virtues that, perhaps, do not exist at all.

1. Security. Despite all the problems of modern reality (rampant crime, terrorism, etc.), a tolerant person feels protected in society. However, intolerant people see a real threat to their own safety in everything that happens around them.

1. Responsibility. Tolerant people are not afraid of responsibility. In everything that happens around them, they look for true reasons and meaning. It is not difficult for them to take on certain obligations and bear responsibility for their own misdeeds and those of others.

Conchita Wurst, aka Thomas Neuwirth, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen

1. Democratic. Tolerant people will never try to convince you that they are right. They will definitely listen to your point of view, but will remain with their own. Intolerant people are dictators in their psychological attitude. They need to know that everyone around them is subject to their concepts and aspirations.

Tolerance in the modern world

Tolerance for our state and its citizens is something new that has come to us since the times of “Perestroika” and the formation of a new state. In the Soviet Union, tolerance was considered, if not a sign of weakness, then a betrayal of political views promoted by the state. In a communist society, differences of opinion, religious views and preferences were not allowed. The distorted concept of tolerance was recognized only in the call for equality and brotherhood of all peoples and sectors of society. Which, however, was pure propaganda and had no basis in reality.

Nowadays, people in our country and all over the world are increasingly asking themselves the question: “How to become a tolerant person?” Moreover many people confuse tolerance with forgiveness in Christianity. However, this concept is far from the Christian call for a patient and stoic desire to “carry your cross” or “turn your cheek to be struck again.” The Orthodox Fathers categorically deny tolerance as a science and do their best to prevent its teaching in schools and universities. They believe that accepting and understanding any point of view destroys the moral foundations of a person that were brought up in him from childhood.

We can list several examples of double interpretation of manifestations of tolerance in society:

1. The youth. Let's consider a striking example of the manifestation of the denial of tolerance - a group of skinheads. They believe that tolerance of foreign culture, beliefs and views leads to the oppression of the Slavic race. How to explain to a child what tolerance is? By example, first of all. Do not be afraid to discuss sensitive topics in the family regarding any type of tolerance. Tolerance for children, especially young ones, can be a difficult concept, but over the years the seeds you sow will pay off and your child will become a truly tolerant person.

1. Family. In some countries, where a tolerant position towards people has been promoted for a long time, there are some excesses in concepts. For example, in England it is prohibited to use the words “husband” and “wife” in document flow. Thus, the state authorities try not to offend the feelings of sexual minorities entering into a marriage union. However, this is not the limit either; in the future it is planned to ban the words “mother” and “father” for the same purpose. European society condemns the denial of Russians towards same-sex partners who want to adopt children.

1. Policy. In political life there is a very fine line between tolerance and servility. Politicians receive appropriate training and skills that help them manipulate the public and the opinions of the majority of people. Take the same ban on teenage homosexuality, adopted at the legislative level in Russia. In tolerant Europe, this caused a storm of condemnation and accusations of intolerance of Russian rulers.

Today we see that the Russian public is outraged by the manifestation of fascism and extremism on the territory of the former Russian state - Ukraine.

Conclusion

From all of the above, the following conclusions can be drawn:

• Manifestations of tolerance towards non-traditional views on life and minority concepts must be justified by logic and common sense;
• It is necessary to consider the adoption of certain positions guided by the laws and traditions accepted in society;
• It is necessary to clearly know and understand the limits of tolerance;
• Tolerance should not develop into permissiveness and trampling of true values.

It is necessary to respectfully accept and understand the meaning of life, positions and aspirations of other people, which must correspond to such concepts as “morality”, “morality” and “democracy”. A tolerant person is not one who is endowed with any one positive quality, but an individual who possesses all of them to the fullest. He will never enter into conflict, even justified by certain circumstances; he cannot be called upon to condemn or sharply reject other people’s ideals and aspirations. However truly tolerant people must have high moral principles. In order for our society to become tolerant, it is necessary to educate and instill in young people tolerance based on standards of morality and morality.

IN modern society Unfortunately, many concepts disappear, unable to withstand the collision with our reality. Many parents believe that children no longer need certain qualities that were instilled in their parents in childhood. These qualities have recently come to include a tolerant attitude, which is not so easy to find in some segments of society.

What does “tolerant person” mean?

First of all, this concept includes the ability to be tolerant of other people and treat them with understanding. That is, to calmly react to other people’s mistakes, mistakes or falls. It’s like explaining to a small child over and over again what the sun is, without raising your voice.

This directly relates to understanding the differences between people and their cultures. For example, do not judge another person for the color of his skin or religion, for the fact that he does not eat meat or, conversely, goes hunting.

Of course, a person always has the right not to like someone or not to support the way of life of another, but is this a reason to laugh at a person for the way he was raised or the way God made him? Do we really have the right to judge African tribes for killing animals because otherwise they would have nothing to eat?

What does tolerant behavior mean today?

The most basic thing is not to point your finger at a person who doesn’t have money for a cool phone and, especially, normal clothes. Do not despise parents who no longer have money for the normal maintenance of five children, because who knows for what reasons they did not have money, and what plans they had before their ruin.

The signs of a tolerant personality are not that difficult to recognize if you know where to look. First of all, such people know how to take responsibility for their actions and never shift their blame onto others. They know very well that no one is perfect in this world and there is no point in pretending to be so.

Tolerance also manifests itself in the ability to learn something new. There is always a desire to share something interesting with others, accept them as they are and not be aggressive when communicating, even if it does not evoke positive emotions and admiration.

Tolerant individuals will find the courage to laugh at their own shortcomings and will not point out those of others in order to “take the fire away from themselves.” They are open and make people believe in the best, their uniqueness and necessity.

It was previously said that this is now rare. Perhaps not everywhere, but there is an opinion that in a world where you have to go over your head, such a person simply will not survive, will not be able to make his way.

But will he really need such radical measures to achieve his goal? No, he can calmly achieve what he wants by simply knocking on a few doors and standing in line a little longer, unlike brawlers who find it easier to kick down a door even where it is not at all necessary.

How to teach a child tolerance?

The formation of a tolerant consciousness can begin in the womb if some psychological techniques are applied. But few people use them, since the easiest way to be tolerant is to show everything by example and teach the little naughty man that all people have the same feelings, dreams and desires, and no one has the right to ridicule them for having these plans and dreams are a little different from what we are used to.

Pay more attention to your children and tell them about different cultures, peoples and nations with whom there is a chance to get acquainted or meet in the future. They don’t have to be loved, supported and cherished, but it’s always worth giving them a chance to prove themselves and earn respect.

Video on the topic of the article

“I’m not tolerant - I care,” read the lines from a song by a well-known Russian musician. I couldn't agree more. Tolerance is not synonymous with indifference. Tolerance presupposes the ability and ability to respect, accept and recognize the rights of other people, their interests, tastes, and freedom. But one cannot be tolerant of such concepts as aggression, violence, cruelty.

Universal human values ​​are life, freedom, health, family. But does someone who destroys or takes other lives have the right to life? Where is the line of tolerance? Does she exist? How to find her? Let's figure it out.

The term “tolerance” is borrowed from medicine, where it means the body getting used to something, increasing resistance, reducing the protective function. For example, in the context of considering the problem of alcoholism, the concept of “increasing the body’s tolerance to alcohol” is used - an increase in the dose tolerated by the body without serious consequences. That is, a weakening of the immune response to some aggressor.

In medicine, a constant increase in tolerance inevitably leads a living organism to death due to the completely lost ability to fight irritants and produce protective antibodies. Literally "tolerance" with Latin language translates as “endure, get used to.”

With medicine, everything is clear: tolerance does not promise anything good, it is a bad phenomenon. What does psychology say about this? Why do we love to cultivate tolerance in children and what do we mean by this concept? In psychology and sociology, tolerance means tolerance for a different way of life, different people, a different worldview, behavior, customs, traditions, habits, and faith. “We are all people, and we are equal to each other!” - the motto of the classical idea of ​​tolerance.

At the present stage of development of society, tolerance is no longer interpreted so clearly:

• The ability to come to terms with unpleasant beliefs and actions of other people that are different from ours.
• Psychological stability in.
• Recognition, respect, understanding and acceptance of the cultural diversity of society, individual and personal characteristics of people (the classic idea of ​​tolerance within the framework of many nations, cultures, faiths, health, and so on).
• Tolerance for everything that happens in society.
• “This is his life. Let him do what he wants. It doesn’t bother me and that’s okay.”

Unfortunately, tolerance in the modern concept is increasingly being approached by the term “indifference” (a decrease or complete disappearance of emotional and behavioral mental response to external unfavorable factors). We have learned so well to recognize the rights of other people, to accept any way of life, that we have become tolerant of maniacs, alcoholics, fights under the windows of the house, children wandering, rudeness, and hooliganism.

I understand that your life is always more valuable. Moreover, as a rule, it is connected with several more lives. But in my opinion, the medical concept of tolerance is now applicable in psychology. Interestingly, even in official documents at the federal and national levels, the term “tolerance” has recently been replaced with the term “tolerance.” Isn't it dangerous to be tolerant?

Types and levels of tolerance

Tolerance can be:

• political;
• gender;
• pedagogical (level of education, intellectual development);
• age (but “he’s a child” is not an excuse for cruelty);
• religious;
• in relation to people with special needs.

Remember how easily children make acquaintances (age, gender, race, status are not important to them), of course, if the parents did not have time to instill in the child the difference. Why is this happening? From birth, we are all given the ability to tolerate, the so-called natural tolerance, but with age we lose it. This feature is associated with the functioning of the psyche in early age: the child does not separate himself from the outside world.

Tolerance levels include:

1. Personal tolerance. Implies a broad worldview, respect and understanding of the value of the right of every person to realize their potential in any way.
2. Social tolerance. Creation by the individual of an appropriate social circle that shares his views on tolerance and maintains social balance. Internal beliefs pass into a system of behavior and direct the activity of the individual.
3. Moral tolerance. A person learns to restrain his emotions and behavior in a situation where social norms or internal beliefs require it, despite negatively irritating external conditions. Wisdom, logic and self-regulation help with this. You can counteract, but in a socially acceptable way, and not by becoming like external stimuli.
4. Moral tolerance. A person tries to enter into the position of another (“external stimulus”), to understand the motives of his behavior. If this is successful, then self-control acquires an internal basis, rather than conditional adherence to norms. The previous level helps to avoid (difficult situations), and this level allows you to resolve conflicts and find common ground (“I understand you, but you also understand me”).

Tolerance can be low (irritation from the whole world), medium (patience for the advantages and disadvantages of some people, the desire to communicate), high (full acceptance of those with whom a person communicates, pleasure from communication, comfort from life). It is important that tolerance creates comfortable living conditions. When we hate and don’t understand everything around us, then “everything infuriates us” - what a pleasure that is. When we blindly accept everything, we can deprive ourselves of comfort, creating dangerous conditions around us, spreading fear. And only with high, but correct tolerance, with a selective attitude towards our environment, we live happily, in harmony and comfort with ourselves and society.

Thus, to be tolerant is to want to understand, understand, find common ground with another person; interest in the unknown. And only in the process of analysis does a person decide: to accept or not to accept, whether he understands it or not. Good example tolerance – the desire to understand the traditions of other cultures, interest in customs, comparison with one’s own culture.

Is tolerance necessary?

In my opinion, you need to be tolerant, but you cannot be tolerant. Yes, we must recognize the rights of other cultures and nations, the special needs of people with disabilities. But we should not be tolerant of unconditional evil. By this I mean any lifestyle that interferes with other people and herself, that is, an antisocial lifestyle.

And yes, you need to be resilient to the difficulties of life, but you cannot be tolerant. You need to take an active tolerant position, so to speak:

• We should not have a lack of reaction to something that contradicts the norms of society or our personal beliefs.
• Complete tolerance is death, in our case - moral, moral, psychological. In some cases, perhaps physical death.
• Through tolerance, one can achieve the point that a person will completely stop resisting external stimuli, but will blindly absorb into himself, accept into himself everything that is given to him, or regularly underestimate the necessary living conditions. This is what we see in modern society.

In technical sciences, “tolerance” means “ tolerance without affecting functionality or value." I think this can be adopted. “You won’t surprise anyone with this” – I would call the main thought of our society. That is why I propose to consider tolerance as an acceptable deviation that does not affect functionality: do with yourself what you want, but in such a way that it does not deprive you of personal value, social significance and does not interfere with society. We no longer react to tattoos, piercings, extreme entertainment. It's just a shell. Tolerance for the inner world of people is much more important.

We have become so open to everything new that we have forgotten about selectivity. You can't accept everything that comes your way. You need to analyze, you need to have a stable system of values ​​and views. You need to build personal boundaries. There must be something you will never accept in people. But we are by no means talking about a nation, faith or health characteristics, we are talking about personal qualities.

For example, I do not accept insults and shouting. They are not and will not be in my house, otherwise I will leave it. There are no people around me who feed on this. Firstly, I don’t accept this, which means I don’t behave like that, and secondly, attempts are stopped or people are cut off. Someone will regard this position as coldness or rudeness. Let's be tolerant: everyone has the right to their opinion. But with a person for whom insults are the value and norm of life, we are not on the same path. “I’m tolerant, but I care” – I’ll paraphrase the thought with which I started this article:

• I am not tolerant of those who hurt animals, but I am tolerant of the mental characteristics of these people and their childhood or pedagogical neglect.
• I could understand and accept their pain, but not the consequences and not the unwillingness to deal with their problems.

Being tolerant and being tolerant and indifferent are two different things. The examples can be continued indefinitely. For example, you need to be tolerant of taste preferences in music (some people listen to rock, some classics, some rap). It doesn’t matter what genre gives a person inner harmony if it doesn’t influence social behavior, then why not. You may not understand how they listen to it, but you can simply accept it. But if music is screaming under the windows and doesn’t let you sleep, then it doesn’t matter at all what genre it is, what’s important is people’s antisocial behavior. There can be no talk of acceptance here, because in this context it gives rise to permissiveness.

How to be tolerant

If your problem is in the classical concept of tolerance, that is, you do not know how to recognize the rights of other people to life, faith, style of music, nation, and so on, then here are some tips on how to be tolerant:

1. Tolerance is formed as. The more often we are exposed to something and react in the same way to the stimulus, the stronger this stereotype of behavior is fixed in our consciousness, and then in the subconscious.
2. In each person, upon detailed analysis, traces of many races can be found. These tests, of course, are expensive, but as an alternative you can find books, articles, and videos on this topic. Genes, nationalities, races and nations are so mixed that it is impossible to find a 100% Russian person or a Turk, a German, a Ukrainian. Start with yourself.
3. Realize that tolerance is for you, not someone else. It provides a psychologically comfortable life. You cannot change the whole world the way you need it. So isn’t it easier for your own mental well-being to accept the characteristics of other people?
4. Would our world be the same if all people were the same? No. The people who create history are unique. Among them are many people with special health needs (Stephen Hawking, Ludwig van Beethoven, Alexey Maresyev) or from different nations (the famous and unsurpassed teacher Shalva Amonashvili). We can talk endlessly about countries and nations. For example, many foreign theories formed the basis of domestic psychology. Science, and therefore life, does not have the concept of “ours” and “yours”. There is a concept of general progress, consciousness, experience, culture. Start studying literature, especially scientific publications and history. Recognize the value of a “diverse” society.
5. . It is she who helps to understand other people, to stand in their place, to compare oneself with them.
6. The growth of tolerance is facilitated by personal communication with other people, living in another country, and working in a team. The most difficult thing is to force yourself to join such groups, meet other people, earn their favor and positively establish yourself. At first you will have to rely only on moral tolerance and, but the more time you spend in conditions of the unknown and incomprehensible, the easier it will be to succeed, and tolerance will smoothly move to the moral level.
7. It is possible that you are simply sinning with people. Then you need to fight it.
8. Get rid of stereotypes and prejudices. Receive and process information about other people yourself. Our level of tolerance is also determined by the environment in which we grew up. If, as adults, we notice a hole in this place, then we have to start all over again through self-education.
9. Don't criticize, but be interested. Make it a rule not to judge without understanding, without asking the question “why?”
10. Accepting others starts with. Perhaps you were not accepted as a child, and as an adult you cannot accept yourself.

So, a tolerant person:

• Knows himself, adequately evaluates himself and the people around him, his strengths and weaknesses, knows how to recognize them, accept them, and, if necessary, correct them.
• and confident in own strength. Knows that he can cope with any difficulties.
• Bears responsibility for his life, actions and their consequences. Does not shift responsibility to other people or circumstances.
• Strives for self-realization in work, society, creativity, that is, all aspects of life.
• Has a developed

While a person who is not distinguished by tolerance:

• He sees advantages in himself, and only disadvantages in others. Blames people for this.
• , . Constantly remains in a feeling, afraid of himself, the world, the environment (although he does not always realize or admit this).
• Transfers responsibility for failures.
• Lack of initiative, passive, does not strive for self-realization.
• Reacts painfully to jokes, especially directed at himself. He uses black humor himself.

It is obvious that it is possible to achieve tolerance only through self-knowledge and self-development, as well as through active practical interaction with the world.

Training to develop tolerance

I bring to your attention E. S. Arbuzova’s training on the development of tolerance. Exercises can be used either separately or in combination. They are suitable for adults and older teenagers. It is recommended to conduct training in a group.

"Greetings"

Training participants are encouraged to greet each other as is customary in different countries. For example, a handshake and eye-to-eye look from Germany, rubbing noses from Eskimos, and so on.

"What's in my name"

This exercise will allow you to look at yourself outside the box and teach you how to communicate with others. You need to write your name on the sheet, but backwards. Now you need to choose a word for each letter, but so that together you get some parting words, a message. If there are not enough letters in your name, you can ask someone for an extra letter. But you can’t ask for a specific one, you need to take the one they give.

"Telegram"

It is advisable to carry out the exercise in groups of at least 6 people. In each group, the initials of the participants (first and last name) are written down. The task is to compose a message from all the initials.

"Presentation"

Participants are divided into pairs. The task is to communicate with each other, and then introduce (present, describe, tell) your communication partner.

An alternative option is to first have one member of the pair tell a story about a fictional character with his real name. Then the partner tries to guess the real facts about the previous storyteller. Guess how he sees the world, what is valuable to him, what worries him, and so on. Our fantasies and fictitious stories most accurately convey the current state of our inner world. Whether we like it or not, the subconscious will take the reins. Especially when the hero of the fairy tale has the same name as ours. So all that remains is to listen carefully to your interlocutor.

"Detective"

The exercise is carried out in pairs. Participants are not allowed to talk. It is only allowed to show each other 6 (more or less) personal items. The task of the second participant in the pair is to create a description of the personality of his partner in these subjects. The partner denies or confirms the statements.

"Describe me"

Participants in pairs communicate with each other for 5 minutes. After this, they turn away from each other and write a mini-article (description), where they record the external, individual, behavioral characteristics of the partner. The partner denies or confirms the statements. The exercise develops observation, intuition, memory, empathy; improves relationships and mutual understanding of participants.

"The sun shines for those who..."

One of the participants goes to the center of the circle and says “The sun shines for those who ...” (names his advantage or disadvantage, predilection, sympathy or antipathy, and so on). If there is someone in the group with the same statement, then he goes into the circle and pronounces his statement. At the end there is reflection (which came as a surprise, what we have in common, am I happy about this).

Alternative option: the participant names the fact to himself, but in the form “those who have a sister will clap their hands.” He claps himself and looks to see who else has sisters. Statements can be very different, as can subsequent actions. The goal is to get to know each other better, find common ground, accept shortcomings, and emphasize strengths.

"Truth and lie"

Each participant writes 3 statements to himself on paper (two are true, one is false). The other participants' task is to guess what is a lie.

There are many exercises to develop tolerance. You can even invent it yourself. As you can see, their basis is the same: emphasize similarities, find and understand the beauty of differences, learn to understand others, accept yourself and others.

Tolerance (healthy, adequate) is a sign of a mature personality. It is the ability to separate tolerance (indifference) from tolerance (selectivity, respect, understanding, acceptance) that needs to be cultivated in oneself. Otherwise, the personal level of aspirations may fall so low that the person himself will not notice how he ends up at the social bottom. You can’t always endure, you need to fight for your own and comfort.

Tolerance determines cooperation, interaction between people, comfortable and productive coexistence, and life in the same society. The concept of tolerance cannot be replaced by the terms “indifference”, “pity”, “coercion”, “sense of duty”. You need to be tolerant consciously, without equating it with manipulation or showing off.