PSYCHOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE MASS CONSCIOUSNESS OF PEASANTS DURING PUGACHEV’S REBELLION

The article describes the prerequisites, factors and characteristics of mass consciousness of peasants during the years of Pugachev’s Rebellion (1773-1775). The analysis is carried out on the basis of the model of the functional system of the psyche, differentiation-integration theory of development, social constructivism, psychological- historical and intellectual-historical reconstruction. The peasant rebellion is considered as a result of the functioning of mass consciousness of this social group under the influence of historical, political and economic factors. It is shown that the peasant consciousness was based on communal identity, and its inherent values of stability and tradition were in conflict with the innovative values of secularism and rationalism that had entered Russia since the times of Peter the Great’s reforms. The inconsistency of the authorities’ actions with the needs of the population led to the emergence of social problems and determined behavioural activity in the form of riots.