Maria Zielińska

Social position and the dynamics of attitudes toward the events of 1980-1981

Abstract: This article presents the results of an empirical study devoted to testing a hypothesis about a causal relationship between the current location of individuals in the social structure and their perception of historical events of 1980-81 in Poland. These events included massive workers’ strikes, the emergence of a politically independent trade union, Solidarity, and, finally, the imposition of martial law. After 1989, the post-communist transition caused the Poles to revise many of their opinions and attitudes aboui the past. The survey data gathered in 2001 in the western part of Poland (N = 326) confirm the hypothesis according to which individuals who have not succeeded blame their failed outcomes on some external, historical factors. In contrast, high occupational status and achievement of economic success tend to increase a positive attitude toward the past. These results are interpreted in terms of mechanisms of adaptation to radical social change.