Социальная мобильность через призму межличностной значимости: опыт выпускников юридических факультетов элитных университетов

Педагогика и психология образования. 2025. № 4.

Bitsiokha Y., Семенова Т. В.

This article explores the role of interpersonal mattering (the sense of recognition and belonging within a group) in the process of social mobility among graduates of selective Russian universities, using law graduates as a case study. Higher education is examined not only as a tool for economic advancement but also as a space for social adaptation, where key connections are formed and the norms of a new environment are internalized. The study aims to identify the mechanisms behind the effectiveness of interpersonal mattering as a factor in social mobility.

A qualitative research design was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with nine graduates and final-year law students from selective universities. The data analysis revealed five key themes: adaptation to a new environment, the role of professors, university initiatives, employment opportunities, and parental support. The results indicate that integration and assimilation are the most effective adaptation strategies, while marginalization hinders social mobility. Active engagement from professors, mentorship programs, and extracurricular activities play a crucial role in helping students accumulate social capital.

This study contributes to existing research on social mobility by demonstrating that upward social movement depends not only on economic factors but also on psychological adaptation mechanisms. The findings can inform student support programs, particularly for those from less privileged backgrounds, to enhance the effectiveness of higher education as a social elevator.

Keywords: социальная мобильность, social mobility, selective universities, тематический анализ, thematic analysis, interpersonal mattering, межличностная значимость, селективные университеты, adaptation in university, адаптация в университете