This comparative inquiry on the subjective vitalities (SVs) of Latvian, Lithuanian and Mari El (in Russian Federation) minority groups, viz. respectivey Russian-speakers, Russian-speakers and Poles and Maris. In the Baltic context, higher acculturation to the dominant group culture is linked to lower interethnic suspicion towards the dominant group, whilst in the Mari case higher acculturation is connected to higher interethnic wariness, given the nature of interethnic relations and some social factors defining the dissimilarity of Maris as to acculturation.