R. M. Shamionov
Table 1. Evidence indicators showing inadmissibility of ways of improving economic situation and riskiness in persons with
high and low levels of envy.
t-test for equality of means
M SD M SD t Sig. (2-tailed)
Utilization of illegal methods 2.86 1.31 4.73 0.59 4.56 0.01
Utilization of illegal methods 2.86 1.31 4.73 0.59 4.56 0.01
Unskilled work for money 2.71 1.40 3.47 1.45 1.52 0.14
Bribing an official 3.00 1.00 3.80 1.14 1.01 0.32
Work during anti-social hours (additional work) 2.86 1.04 2.20 0.86 0.03 0.97
Evasion from paying child support 3.28 1.36 4.80 0.56 1.89 0.05
Reselling goods with a substantial retail margin 3.29 0.80 4.67 0.61 4.50 0.01
Fare evasion 3.42 1.21 4.60 1.05 2.23 0.01
Working for a private entrepreneur 3.00 1.14 3.40 1.50 0.34 0.73
Tax evasion 3.28 1.34 4.87 .51 2.29 0.03
Preference to interesting work 3.47 1.23 2.26 1.38 2.58 0.01
Riskiness 1.29 12.29 −9.81 15.6. 2.26 0.03
Note: The reversed scale is used (1—Yes, no doubt, 5—no, in no case).
enterprise, considering trade with a substantial retail margin to the purchased goods acceptable. They consider
fare evasion, tax evasion and evasion from paying child support possible. Individuals with low levels of envious-
ness demonstrate more inclination to do low-paid but interesting work.
This data is confirmed by the results of correlation analysis. Thus, the validity of tax evasion is associated with
envy to the physical (r = −0.40, p < 0.01) and material (r = −0.27, p < 0.01) superiority in the sphere of family life
(r = −0.29, p < 0.01); fare evasion is associated with social (r = −0.24, p < 0.05) and material superiority (r =
−0.26, p < 0.01); possibility of bribery—with envy to social (r = −0.25, p < 0.01) and material superiority (r =
−0.26, p < 0.01).
This data is somewhat consistent with the results of the study by K. Muzdybaev [11] which shows that the en-
vious are confident that various forms of conduct that violate the laws and morality are acceptable. Unlike the en-
vious, the non-envious people tend to work overtime and even do unskilled work in order to achieve higher ma-
terial status and consider breaking of norms of law and morality unacceptable.
From this data it follows that, in fact, the envious possess more attitude and rules for their own conduct, admit-
ting illegal behavior in the economic sphere. Perhaps they are projected on the achievements of others: an envious
person believes that the other has reached greater material well-being using illegal ways.
Indicators on the Schubert’s risk scale demonstrated greater level of riskiness in envious people and prudence
in the non-envious people (r(risk; envy) = 0.20, p < 0.05). However, the envious often prefer not to risk in contrast to
the non-envious people when it comes to their finances (56.3% vs. 25.0%) and property (43.8% vs. 25.0% respec-
tively). This suggests that in fact the envious, seeking to better the economic situation, and being less careful,
however, are not prepared to take risks in their economic situation, which is clearly a barrier (in a number of other
things) to the relevant achievements and readiness for economic modernization. However, separate action, which
is even more risky in respect of personal economic achievements in the legal field is not supported. Meanwhile,
they are more willing to take risks, if it concerns their health (35.3% and 50.1%) and relations with management
(5.9% and 31.3%).
One of the significant aspects of our study is identification of behavioral patterns in complicated economic and
everyday situations in connection with envy. Envy in terms of physical, social superiority, as well as in family life
and a cumulative score of envy are associated with the strategy of the activity involving risk (Table 2). However,
a cautious strategy of activity (excluding risks) is back connected with envy to social status and material superior-
ity.
Based on the obtained results, we can say that risky activity is increasingly fraught with “social” envy and to a
less extent with material envy. Let us note, that risky activity (back) is associated with attitude to material wealth
as a result of labor (r = −0.41, p < 0.01), which indicates the propensity for risky actions, rejecting the need for
painstaking work in order to achieve tangible (monetary) wealth. In other words, risky activity is linked to social