2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43
The history of the formation of the concept of identity is rooted in the research of Z. Freud, who in his work "Mass Psychology and Analysis of the Human Self" used the term identification. Identification or identification meant the earliest manifestation of an emotional connection with another person.
The first studies of the problem of identity are associated with the works of J. G. Mead, C. Cooley and other scientists from the University of Chicago. The emergence of the term identity itself is associated with the names of E. Erickson and E. Fromm.
According to modern research, the generally accepted definition of identity is as follows: identity is an important component of self-awareness, "self-image", which largely determines the behavior of an individual, his thoughts and feelings. Identity acts as an integral meaning-forming element of the personality, which has a cognitive-affective nature and influences the values, thinking, behavior of a person; gives a person certainty, sets the boundaries of his place in the social world.
Identity is understood as the integration of a person and society, when everyone has the opportunity to answer the question: "Who am I?" The term "identity crisis" itself was introduced into scientific use by Eric Erickson in the process of researching military neuroses among submariners. Most often, an identity crisis manifests itself as a contradiction, an inconsistency of the existing social status of a person or group with the requirements of a changed social situation.
It is possible to single out the most common signs characteristic of this state: inadequacy of self-esteem; loss of perspective; growing pessimism; change in social activity; the emergence of uncompromising judgments and socially aggressive behavior; increased interest in metaphysical and esoteric issues, etc.
As a result of this, various emotions and states begin to manifest. These are fear, anxiety, depression, emotional instability, apathy, loss of strength, unwillingness to do anything, confusion, aggression, irritability, resentment, exacerbation of chronic diseases, and many others. dr.
The socio-political situation of recent years all over the world and specifically in Ukraine causes emotional and mental stress in the majority of the population. It is safe to say that this tension contributes to the growth of various deviations in the functioning of the psyche, exacerbation of chronic problems and the emergence of new problems.
Not every case of people seeking psychological and psychotherapeutic help bears signs of an identity crisis. But the situation of unrelenting tension and unresolved conflict contributes to this in every possible way.
In this regard, the problem of the identity crisis poses specific tasks for specialists to overcome it.
There are a number of important points to consider when dealing with an identity crisis.
A change in the usual living conditions causes a restructuring of the self-image. It goes on in two oppositely directed processes: preservation and change. Maintaining key positions, an attempt to maintain the standard of living, to maintain significant conditions for functioning. And at the same time - the desire to change the external situation, to influence it, to adjust the conditions for themselves. And in case of failure (complete or partial), change the internal attitude to the new conditions of existence.
In general, the situation meets the parameters of a personality crisis. We can say that the identity crisis and the personality crisis are links in the same chain. In addition to the similarity, it is necessary to note the differences in the manifestation of these phenomena. A personal crisis can be normative (age-related changes) or abnormal (divorce) and arises within the framework of the functioning of the individual himself and his immediate environment. An identity crisis is usually caused by social upheavals and inevitably affects the personal level, but it has deeper and more unpredictable consequences, changing a person's ideas about himself.
Erickson defines identity as a complex personality formation with a multi-level structure:
1) the individual level; 2) personal level; 3) social level.
At the first level identity is defined as the result of a person's awareness of his own temporal extension, including a certain idea of himself, having a past and looking into the future. At the second level, identity is defined by Erickson as a person's feeling of his own uniqueness, the uniqueness of his life experience, which causes some identity - something more than a simple sum of children's identifications.
Finally, at the third level, identity is that personal construct that reflects a person's inner solidarity with social, group ideals and standards and thereby helps the process of self-categorization: these are our characteristics thanks to which we divide the world into similar and dissimilar ones. Erickson gave this structure the name of social identity [5].
The theory of social identity of Tajfel and Turner argues that a person has a need to perceive his own groups as superior to other groups in terms of particularly significant indicators. At the same time, a person is idealized towards his own group (group favoritism) and dismissively towards other people's groups. According to the authors, a person can increase positive feelings towards their group by belittling or negatively evaluating other people's groups. In cases where a group's own traditionally belongs to groups with a low social status, a person in one way or another tries to emphasize the uniqueness of his group, its significant differences from others.
Various discussions on political topics, in social networks and the media, over the past time, illustrate this process quite vividly.
The content of the crisis is an acute emotional state that arises in a difficult situation of a person's collision with obstacles in the way of satisfying his most important needs. As signs of a crisis, which can also serve as criteria for its diagnosis, the following are called: the presence of an event that causes stress, leading to frustration and accompanied by a feeling of hopelessness, a collapse in achieving vital goals; experiencing grief; feeling of loss, danger, humiliation; feeling of inadequacy; destruction of the usual course of life; uncertainty of the future; lack of integrity of the vision of the situation; fear; despair; feelings of loneliness and rejection; suffering.
Suicidal intentions and fantasies are the key to the symbolism of experiencing a crisis. A. N. Mokhovikov notes that the most common motive is the avoidance of subjectively intolerable mental pain. The birth of a new one is often accompanied by the need for painful separation, when it is necessary to part with a part of the experience with which a person was identified earlier, about which he could say "this is I", "this is mine."
According to the time parameter, crises are subdivided into: acute, short-term; long-term; lingering.
From the point of view of dynamics, there are 4 successive stages of the crisis (J. Kaplan):
1. Primary growth of tension, stimulating habitual ways of solving problems;
2. Further growth of stress in conditions when these methods are ineffective;
3. Even greater tension, requiring the mobilization of external and internal sources;
4. With an unfavorable course, if the crisis has not been resolved, there is an increase in anxiety and depression, a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness, leading to disorganization of the personality.
A crisis can end at any stage if an external danger disappears or a solution to the situation is found. In the current protracted socio-political situation, it is psychotherapy that makes it possible for the patient to find this solution.
The temporality and reversibility of the identity crisis depends on the patient's availability of resources - internal and / or external opportunities for receiving support, approval, mental strength. Of great importance is the presence or absence of resources precisely at the time of the tragic events that led a person to see a therapist. The combination of symptoms, age crises coinciding with external events, put the patient at risk of an identity crisis.
The prognosis for the success of therapy can depend on many factors. For example, on the level of personal integration. The dependence in this case may even be the opposite - the lower the level of personal maturity, the easier the process of influence-adaptation for a person goes through. Less doubt means more determination.
Symboldrama, as one of the most effective methods of psychotherapy, offers a wide range of approaches, methods and techniques for dealing with an identity crisis.
Psychoanalysis, which is the basis of this approach, promotes understanding and acceptance of the current situation, restoration of the cognitive sphere, the establishment and explanation of cause-and-effect relationships in the patient's life events.
Psychological contact between the therapist and the patient, built on mutual respect, emotional support and approval, becomes the basis for positive identifications, and contributes to the restoration of faith in oneself and in one's own strengths.
As a method based on the active work of the imagination, symbol drama makes it possible to build a new reality, a new image of "I". Due to the uniqueness of the mental apparatus of each patient, this image retains the features of the uniqueness of the personality itself. And the psychotherapist's mirroring and containment of the patient's feelings becomes a powerful resource for overcoming the crisis.
The main objectives of psychotherapy to help resolve identity crises are:
• gradual reconciliation of inevitable contradictions in self-image, • restoration of the continuity of the perception of the I image before and after tragic events, • integration of ego-identity at all levels - individual, personal, social, • elimination of rigid oppositions by restoring the foundations of the self-image and expanding the repertoire of acceptable identifications, • development of flexibility in responding to stressful situations, • formation of easier switchability between social roles in different social groups.
Let's consider the main possibilities and specific techniques for working with this problem.
1. Restoring the perception of the continuity of existence: working with the parts "Before, After, Now"; technique "Line of life";
2. Reevaluation of events and acceptance of the situation: "Introduce yourself to be 80 years old", "Letter from the future", "My day in 5 years";
3. Responding to aggression and mental pain: "Leo", "Whirlpool", "Present unbearable feelings as a natural phenomenon";
4. Search for resources: "Hike to a wise man", "A team of helpers", "An animal that needs help";
5. Forgiveness and parting: "A knot on the road", "Ship" technique, "A gift for goodbye";
6. Restoring a sense of security and autonomy: "A beautiful flower", "A safe place where I feel good", "Building a fortress";
7. Formation of a new image of "I": "Construction of a new house", "Own allotment of land", "Ideal I", "Wild cat"
8. Focus on the future: "My day in 5 years", "Road raincoat", goal setting technique "5-3-1".
It remains to say a few words about the personality of the psychotherapist himself in the mainstream of the modern problem of the identity crisis. Of course, social change affects everyone personally and our entire community as a whole. And it is precisely that part of identity that corresponds to professional self-determination, activity, flexibility in assessing what is happening - that makes it possible for our work with the population who have asked for help in this difficult time. A crisis is not only the death of the former, but also the possibility of building a new image of “I”. Being flexible, tolerant, humane, deep, responsible, stable, empathic, attentive and constantly renewing is not a condition today, but a requirement for our profession. Every time we meet with a patient, we ask ourselves the question: "Who am I?" and looking for an answer.
Based on the foregoing, the following conclusions can be drawn:
1. The current social situation, leading to a crisis of identity among the population, sets before specialists the task of mastering the skills of psychotherapeutic work to overcome it.
2. The symbol drama method provides ample opportunities for overcoming the identity crisis.
3. The main tool in the work continues to be the specialist himself - his personal and professional capabilities, multiplied by the experience of colleagues and our entire professional community as a whole.
Literature
1. Erickson E. Identity: youth and crisis: Per. from English / Common. ed. and foreword. Tolstykh A. V. - M.: Publishing group "Progress", 1996. - 344s.
2. Kernberg O. F. Aggression in personality disorders and perversions / Per. from English A. F. Uskov. - M.: Independent firm "Class", 1998. - 368 p.
3. Mahler M., McDewitt J. B. The process of separation-individuation and the formation of identity // Journal of Practical Psychology and Psychoanalysis 2005 No. 2
4. Analysis of the approaches to the rise of identity in psychological science / Kh. I. Turetska // Updating the wisdom, forms and methods of development and development in the mortgages of education: zb. sciences. good. Scientific notes of the Rivne Sovereign Humanitarian University. - Rivne, 2007. - Vip. 37. - pp. 232–236.
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