Typical characteristics of Russian and English mentality

Below are data showing the dependence of the geographical situation of the state on the character of people in our country and in the UK.

Russian mentality and geographical position

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Factors influencing the mentality	National characteristics
Geographical position – vast territories	Generosity
	Liberty
	Spiritual Freedom
	Mismanagement
	Lack of initiative
	Laziness
Climate (severe climate, long winters, cold temperatures)	Melancholy
	Slowness
	Underestimation
	Hospitality
	Patience
	Obedience
	Collectivism
	Collegiality
	Inconsistency
landscape	Meditation
	Dreaminess
	Observation
	Thoughtfulness
	Monitoring the nature
	Talk about life

As you can see because of vast territories Russian people possess such characteristics as generosity, liberty, spiritual freedom, mismanagement, lack of initiative, laziness.

Melancholy, slowness, hospitality, patience, obedience, collectivism can be specified by severe climate and cold winter temperatures.

Features of the Russian landscape gives rise to such mentality characteristics as: meditation, dreaminess, observation, thoughtfulness, monitoring the nature, talk about life

British mentality and geographical position

Factors influencing the mentality	National characteristics
Landscape (there are no big rivers or high mountains)	Balance
	Moderation
	Conservatism
Climate (warm, without the harsh winters)	Industry
	Caring about home (making beds, gardens)
	Perseverance
	Attentiveness
Territory	Economy
	Prudence

On the other hand, the British posses such personal traits as balance, moderation, conservatism, economy, prudence and industry due to the warm climate and the lack of vast territories.

After surveys, observations and talks with English and Russian people, about British and Russian mentality we point out mentality sets shown in the following chart.

Mentality differences between Russians and Englishmen

Aspect of comparison	Characteristics of Western mentality	Characteristics of Russian mentality
Business Matters	Individualism	Collectivism
Making Idles	Specification	Generalization
Future Plans	Optimism	Uncertainty
Communication	Formality	Informality
Work and Business	Competition	Cooperation
Decision Making	Practicality	Emotions

Let's see the way mentality sets work, comparing Russians and British.

Samples and conclusions do not mean that all British are like that, but they show the tendency.

Language distinctions between people are not only that the nations speak different languages, but also in special language habits.

So, Russian intonation is quite often perceived by Englishmen as too categorical, unfriendly or even rude.

To illustrate individualism we can give the following example from

V. Ovchinnikov’s book. Once, while in a post-office, I saw only one person at the counter and immediately took a place behind him, being happy not to stand in a queue. However, I didn't understand the expression on his face, as if saying "What do you want?!" My Russian stereotype was broken when a guard showed me a group of people near the door. That was the real queue, which, according to the English mentality set, didn't try to violate the customer's right to do his business individually.

Optimism and future orientation are characteristic features of British mentality. Speaking about their future students usually say: "After I get my B.S. I'll study at a graduate school for 2 years to get an M.S. and 3 more years to get a Ph.D., find a well-paid job, buy a house, get married etc.". On the contrary, the majority of Russian students do not know what they are planning to do after they get their Diplomas. Englishmen perceive the future as something positive, happier and better than 'today'. Many Russians, in their turn, have expectations of uncertainty, referring to the Presidential elections, which could radically change their lives.

Informality is a striking and vivid mentality set. Englishmen often smile on the streets, can easily start a conversation with a stranger, and address each other by first names. In Britain people look at each other from an informal point of view (accept official meetings), which makes them perceive Russians as being rude, since we do not smile and say 'Hi' on the streets.

Summarizing and highlighting the most striking features of the Russian and English mentality, it should be noted that in Russia there is a tendency to collectivism, cooperation, openness, trust, freedom, while the British have a tendency to moderation, conservatism.